International Accreditation Standards Research Articles

Antimicrobial stewardship programs in seven Latin American countries: facing the challenges

BackgroundStudies have shown that more than 50% of the antibiotics used in hospitals are unnecessary or inappropriate and, that antimicrobial resistance may cost up to 20 billion USD in excess medical costs each year. On the other hand, Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASP) significantly reduce inappropriate antimicrobial use, emergence of antimicrobial resistance, healthcare associated infections, and costs in hospital settings.ObjectiveTo evaluate the development of ASP and antibiotic savings in 7 Latin American hospitals using standardized quantitative indicators in all the participating health care institutions.MethodsAn interventional study was conducted, where pre- and post- evaluations were performed using a standardized score tool adapted from the Joint Commission International accreditation standards and, the Colombian Institute of Technical Standards and Certification. We evaluated ASP from 7 Latin American hospitals between 2019 and 2020. A pre-intervention evaluation was done in each hospital to quantify the degree of development of the ASP (ASP Development score). Based on these results, tailored on-site training was implemented in each hospital, followed by a post-intervention evaluation to quantify improvement of ASP-development indicators. In addition, monetary savings in antimicrobials derived from the ASP intervention were estimated.ResultsIn the pre-intervention evaluation, the average ASP development score for the 7 institutions was 65.8% (40-94.3%). The items with the lowest development score were those related to monitoring and communicating the ASP progress and success. For the post-intervention evaluation, 2 institutions couldn’t participate due to the pressure imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. For the remaining 5/7 hospitals, the average ASP development score was 82.3% with an increase of 12.0% when compared to the pre-intervention measurement of the same institutions (average pre-intervention score 70.3% (48.2%-94.3%) The items with a significant increase were key performance indicators, AMS education and training of the prescribers. Three of the seven (3/7) hospitals reported antibiotic monetary savings associated to the ASP intervention.ConclusionsThe use of the tool described shown to be useful to evaluate specific areas of ASP-development that were lacking and tailor interventions for the participating hospitals, consequently, it helped improve ASP-development in the institutions that underwent pre- intervention and post-intervention analysis. In addition, the strategies showed monetary savings on antimicrobial costs when measured.

Establishing the Most Important Clinical Skills for New Graduate Veterinarians by Comparing Published Lists with Regional Stakeholder Expectations: A Bangladesh Experience.

Veterinary clinical skills training is evolving rapidly around the world and there is increasing interest in Bangladesh in opening clinical skills laboratories and using models in teaching. The first clinical skills laboratory was opened at Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in 2019. The current study aimed to identify the most important clinical skills for veterinarians in Bangladesh to inform the further development of clinical skills laboratories and ensure resources are deployed effectively and efficiently. Lists of clinical skills were collated from the literature, national and international accreditation standards, and regional syllabi. The list was refined through local consultation, focused on farm and pet animals, and was disseminated via an online survey to veterinarians and final-year students who were asked to rate the level of importance of each skill for a new graduate. The survey was completed by 215 veterinarians and 115 students. A ranked list was generated with injection techniques, animal handling, clinical examination, and basic surgical skills among the most important. Some techniques requiring specific equipment and some advanced surgical procedures were considered less important. As a result of the study, the most important clinical skills for a new graduate in Bangladesh have been identified for the first time. The results will inform the development of models, the use of clinical skills laboratories, and the design of clinical skills courses for veterinary training. Our approach of drawing upon existing lists followed by local stakeholders consultation is recommended to others to ensure clinical skills teaching is regionally relevant.

An Evaluation of the Program Objectives and Outcomes of the Business Administration Departments at Fifteen Turkish Universities and Their Compliance with the Bologna Process

Defining quality assurance in higher education as "a comprehensive, systematic, and regular assessment of an education institution’s educational, research, and administrative services and improving their quality," Günay (2012) states that the efforts of the European countries to build a common European higher education area and research platform have been shaped by the "Bologna Process." The educational programs developed under the Bologna Process support not only the quality assurance but also the national standardization of these programs (Kavak, Seferoğlu, Kabasakal, Zeynep Şen ve Uludağ, 2015). This paper aims to research and evaluate the realization or compliance levels of Bachelor of Science level business administration programs at fifteen universities in Turkey with regard to the Bologna Process and the National Qualifications Framework for Higher Education in Turkey (NQF-HETR). In this regard, the information about the 2018-2019 Business Administration curricula, program objectives, program outputs, and course content of these selected universities was reviewed from their publicly available websites. To evaluate their adherence to the Turkish Higher Education Quality Council’s rules, the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area, and international accreditation standards, the collected results were tabulated to comparatively analyze these selected business programs. The results revealed that the selected business administration schools in Turkey provided their program information in a non-standardized manner and that there were inadequacies in complying with the Bologna Process as well as establishing globally accepted "program objectives" expected from an accredited business program.

- بناء نموذج تنظيمي للاعتماد المدرسي من المنظور التربوي الإسلامي: مدارس التعليم ما بعد الأساسي بسلطنة عمان أنموذجا Building an Organizational Model for School Accreditation from an Islamic Educational Perspective: Post-basic education schools in the Sultanate of Oman as a Model.

Research Objectives: The research aims to build a model according to standards and indicators for school accreditation for schools of post-basic education in the Sultanate of Oman from an Islamic educational perspective that is compatible with the nature of the educational system in the Sultanate. To be a guide and guide for those in charge of improving and developing school performance, since school accreditation is one of the modern systems prevailing globally in evaluating the performance of global institutions. Study Methodology: The study relies on the descriptive approach, collecting information and literature on international and Arab school accreditation standards and linking them to the Islamic perspective. Results: The researcher designed a special school accreditation model for post-basic education consisting of (12) criteria distributed over (94) main indicators. Based on the need analysis and review of the main dimensions used in the previous studies, and for the purpose of sorting out the educational efficiency criteria for the school in the Ministry of Education in the Sultanate of Oman, these dimensions were framed in (12) main criteria. The originality of the research: The school accreditation system is one of the educational systems that studies have agreed upon is an urgent and necessary need for schools to ensure the quality of outputs and reassure the community that the school is doing its job to the fullest. And recommended the need to apply it in educational institutions. Which recommended that accreditation should not be limited to institutions of higher education and private education alone, but should be extended to include the education system in all its stages and institutions. Hence the necessity of conducting this study, due to the lack of accurate standards that enable us to measure the efficiency of the school, through an evaluation program based on well-studied global scientific foundations and in line with the environment, Omani society and the nature of the stage and characteristics of post-basic education.

- بناء نموذج تنظيمي للاعتماد المدرسي من المنظور التربوي الإسلامي: مدارس التعليم ما بعد الأساسي بسلطنة عمان أنموذجا Building an Organizational Model for School Accreditation from an Islamic Educational Perspective: Post-basic education schools in the Sultanate of Oman as a Model.

Research Objectives: The research aims to build a model according to standards and indicators for school accreditation for schools of post-basic education in the Sultanate of Oman from an Islamic educational perspective that is compatible with the nature of the educational system in the Sultanate. To be a guide and guide for those in charge of improving and developing school performance, since school accreditation is one of the modern systems prevailing globally in evaluating the performance of global institutions. Study Methodology: The study relies on the descriptive approach, collecting information and literature on international and Arab school accreditation standards and linking them to the Islamic perspective. Results: The researcher designed a special school accreditation model for post-basic education consisting of (12) criteria distributed over (94) main indicators. Based on the need analysis and review of the main dimensions used in the previous studies, and for the purpose of sorting out the educational efficiency criteria for the school in the Ministry of Education in the Sultanate of Oman, these dimensions were framed in (12) main criteria. The originality of the research: The school accreditation system is one of the educational systems that studies have agreed upon is an urgent and necessary need for schools to ensure the quality of outputs and reassure the community that the school is doing its job to the fullest. And recommended the need to apply it in educational institutions. Which recommended that accreditation should not be limited to institutions of higher education and private education alone, but should be extended to include the education system in all its stages and institutions. Hence the necessity of conducting this study, due to the lack of accurate standards that enable us to measure the efficiency of the school, through an evaluation program based on well-studied global scientific foundations and in line with the environment, Omani society and the nature of the stage and characteristics of post-basic education.

Degree of Application of the Faculty of Educational Sciences at the University of Jordan of International Accreditation Standards (CAEP) and its Relation to the Quality of Educational Service

The study aims to explore the degree of application of the Faculty of Educational Sciences at the University of Jordan to the international accreditation standards from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and its relationship to the quality of educational service. The study members, purposefully selected, are all 85 faculty members at the Faculty of Educational Sciences at the University of Jordan. To achieve the objectives of the study, a descriptive and analytical approach is used. The study instruments are electronically prepared, developed, and distributed during the second semester of the academic year 2019/2020, where the number of respondents to the two study instruments is (77) faculty members. The study concludes that the degree of application of the Faculty of Educational Sciences to the international accreditation standards from the viewpoint of faculty members is medium. The results also show that there is a positive relationship between the degree of applying the international accreditation standards and the degree of quality of educational service from the viewpoint of faculty members. For the Faculty of Educational Sciences at the University of Jordan to attain international accreditation standards and based on the results of the study, the researcher recommends the necessity of evaluating and developing the Faculty’s programs for continuous improvement following methodological foundations and scientific models and through cooperation with target groups, including graduates, employers, and employees in the educational sector.

A typology of sexism in contemporary business schools: Belligerent, benevolent, ambivalent, and oblivious sexism

AbstractThe legitimacy of business schools is based on rankings, revenues, branding, and opportunities to support staff and students “to make a difference in the world”. Yet sexism in business schools is endemic. Drawing on Acker's inequality regimes framework and a thematic analysis of reports in Poets&Quants, EFMD's Global Focus and AACSB International's BizEd/AACSB Insights over a decade, this study explores how business schools are dealing (or not) with sexism. We propose a typology of four categories of sexism in business schools: belligerent, benevolent, ambivalent, and oblivious sexism. Our findings contribute to understandings of institutional theory and the institutional development of business schools as important sites of (sexist and gendered) knowledge production and dissemination and entrenched inequalities. We posit that media constructions of sexism may better inform individual decisions, organizational development, and governance about the imperative to eliminate sexist behaviors and discrimination. We argue that business schools need to gain substantive legitimacy as effective role models by reforming themselves. They must actively tackle institutional and cultural sexism from within. Implications for practice include the effective inclusion of mandatory sexism reporting in international business school accreditation standards and rankings criteria as well as requirements for research funding.

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Activity: Experience of a JACIE-Accredited Center.

The adoption of international quality and accreditation standards is important for the success of transplant centers. Guidelines from the Joint Accreditation Committee ISCT-Europe and EBMT (JACIE) have enabled quality management of the operations of clinical units of cellular therapy centers, including cell collection and processing, thus minimizing errors and adverse events. COVID-19 has had significant implications for immunocompromised patients, particularly hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, as well as their donors and caregivers. Here, we retrospectively examined measures, taken in our transplant center in Turkey during the pandemic period between March 2020 and October 2021, to investigate how JACIE accreditation has affected patient, donor, product, and employee safety. We analyzed data on transplant activity, as well as donor, patient, product, and employee safety, during the pandemic in 3 separate 6- month periods. The measures were analyzed starting from March 2020, when the first COVID-19 case was seen in Turkey. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 140 patients have undergone stem cell transplant in our center. Stem cell transplant was delayed in 22 patients because of the pandemic. Transplant was also postponed due to COVID-19 positivity in 6 patients, and 2 patients died due to COVID-19 infection during the transplant process. Unrelated donor activity continued to be performed safely throughout this period. COVID- 19 infection developed in 12 of the 52 personnel working in the bone marrow transplant unit, one of whom needed intensive care due to severe pneumonia. In terms of quality management activities, the impact of the pandemic was greatest during the first month. Results from our retrospective study examining the impact of JACIE accreditation in a stem cell transplant center during the COVID-19 pandemic showed that, when national and international guidelines are followed, JACIE accreditation can facilitate adaptation to changing conditions in transplant centers.

Towards Sustainable Architectural Education in Egyptian Universities According to International Accreditation Standards for Facing Environmental Crises (Covid 19 Pandemic): A Case Study of the Architecture Programs at Mansoura University and Tanta University

Towards Sustainable Architectural Education in Egyptian Universities According to International Accreditation Standards for Facing Environmental Crises (Covid 19 Pandemic): A Case Study of the Architecture Programs at Mansoura University and Tanta University

International Accreditation Standards and the Benefits to Hospitals Attracting Medical Tourists

There are several studies showing international hospital accreditation does have some impact on clinical standards and even bed occupancy rates. However, little is known about the impact on attracting more international medical tourists to hospitals that have received this distinction. It was expected, prior to the study, that participating in international accreditation might increase operational expenses and greater amounts of international patients would also boost patient volumes and profitability. However, this research found that the investment in accreditation led to insignificant changes (pre-accreditation versus post-accreditation) in operating profit margins (OPM), net profit margins (NPM), and the debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio. This suggests that international hospital accreditation has little impact on the financial aspects of the hospital's operations. It appears to be more of a signaling strategy than a recipe for growth. However, there may be some other tangible benefits of international accreditation (e.g., better medical/clinical outcomes).

International Accreditation and Recognition of the Master’s in Library and Information Science (MLIS) Degree Curriculum: A Case Study of Zimbabwe

This opinion paper discusses the impact of the Library and Information Science (LIS) course/program accreditation, and implications for graduating students when it excludes an international element. The case study describes the accreditation status of Zimbabwe’s LIS training and qualifications, while also gathering insight from international practices. Results reveal the need for a solid support system to the LIS profession from various constituents including LIS curriculum developers, library associations, and an environment that encourages library and information professionals to possess qualifications relevant to their respective markets and innovation. The paper concludes with a recommendation for international accreditation practices, principles and standards that produce well-equipped, versatile LIS professionals. In exploring the process and implications of international accreditation and recognition of library science qualifications in Zimbabwe, the paper holds promise for informing other situations beyond Zimbabwe.

Baseline assessment findings of the Africa Society for Blood Transfusion Step‐Wise Accreditation Programme in 10 sub‐Saharan African countries, 2016–2018

Background and ObjectivesThe accreditation of blood services promotes continuous quality improvement in blood and transfusion services. The Africa Society for Blood Transfusion (AfSBT) conducted 20 baseline assessments of National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS) or blood banks as part of the Step‐Wise Accreditation Programme (SWAP) in 10 sub‐Saharan African (SSA) countries from 2016 to 2018. This paper aims to elucidate the process and findings of the baseline assessments.Materials and MethodsThis is a descriptive study of 20 baseline assessments of NBTS. Eleven sections of the AfSBT assessment were reviewed, and 48 out of 68 standards and 356 out of 466 criteria were assessed. Each standard was assigned a value of 1 if it was fully achieved, 0.5 if partially achieved and 0 if not achieved. We defined average section scores >75% as having ‘met AfSBT Standards’, ≤25% as not meeting standards, 26%–50% as needs major improvement, and 51%–75% as needs some improvement and >75% as meets standards.ResultsThe AfSBT SWAP standards were met in 4 out of the 11 sections: donor management, blood collection, component production and compatibility testing. Three sections were determined to need some improvement (quality system; handling, transport and storage and testing of donated blood), and three sections were determined to need major improvement (haemovigilance, blood administration and national blood service accreditation). One section (receipt, ordering, and issuing of blood) did not meet standards.ConclusionDespite improvements in the quality of blood services in SSA over the past two decades, governments may consider the importance of prioritizing investments in NBTS, ensuring these institutions meet international accreditation standards that are aligned with safe blood transfusion services.

System, Space, Staff, and Stuff framework in establishing a new pediatric critical care unit (PICU) (4S Framework).

By virtue of being in a developing country with ongoing expanding of the healthcare system, establishing or at least renovating a Pediatric critical care unit (PICU) has become a necessity. As intensivists and healthcare providers, we excel at our job as clinicians; however, we perform less than perfect when it comes to participating in establishing new PICUs and deliberately building and designing an EBM and patient-centered PICU with a complete understanding of the technical and non-clinical processes during commissioning or operational phases like construction, physical layout (blueprint), Biomedical engineering aspects, equipment, supply, and work-environment enhancement. If all healthcare providers -and especially intensivists- avoid being involved actively in PICUs designing process at their institution, they will miss an opportunity to gain a new perspective as well as they might contribute to a fragmented process of ICU design and a suboptimal result that might impact the PICU environment, patient journey and eventually the quality of care in that ICU. The PICU designing processes should be handled via a multi-professional team approach in an integrated -not parallel- manner that includes clinical and non-clinical personnel. Therefore, the processes will be more integrated, and they will finish the project efficiently, effectively, safely, and patient-centered way. This paper is an expert opinion and literature review that describes a conceptual framework to guide simple and practical mental processes in establishing and designing processes for new PICUs in developing countries. We called this preparedness tool: the 4S framework (system, space, staff, and stuff). It is a well-known preparedness tool that is commonly used in planning new projects by project leaders. Therefore, we utilized it in establishing a new PICU intended to meet the national and international accreditation standards and requirements. This unique preparedness tool will help establish an easy conceptual framework for all healthcare providers to grasp the complex -clinical and non-clinical- processes of establishing new PICUs and develop a holistic approach to this complex project. Note: The authors had leading roles in establishing or renovating many PICUs in Saudi Arabia, in both private and governmental hospitals, and would like to share their novel conceptual framework for establishing new PICUs in developing countries.

International Accreditation Standards and the Benefits to Hospitals Attracting Medical Tourists

There are several studies showing international hospital accreditation does have some impact on clinical standards and even bed occupancy rates. However, little is known about the impact on attracting more international medical tourists to hospitals that have received this distinction. It was expected, prior to the study, that participating in international accreditation might increase operational expenses and greater amounts of international patients would also boost patient volumes and profitability. However, this research found that the investment in accreditation led to insignificant changes (pre-accreditation versus post-accreditation) in operating profit margins (OPM), net profit margins (NPM) and the debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio. This suggests that international hospital accreditation has little impact on the financial aspects of the hospital’s operations. It appears to be more of a signaling strategy than a recipe for growth. However, there may be some other tangible benefits of international accreditation (e.g., better medical/clinical outcomes).

Effect of Team Health Education on Radiodermatitis in Patients with Head and Neck Tumor Radiotherapy Under the Joint Committee International Standards.

This study aimed to investigate the impacts of team health education on radiodermatitis in patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy. A total of 118 patients undergoing radiotherapy at the Oncology Department of Qingdao Municipal Hospital under the Joint Committee International (JCI) accreditation standards of medical and health institutions were divided into two groups according to the order of the admission: the intervention group (n = 66) and the control group (n = 52). The patients in the control group were given routine nursing, while those in the intervention group received team health education based on the control group. The incidence and satisfaction of radiodermatitis were observed and compared between the groups, and the EORTC QLQ-C30 and General Quality of Life Inventory-74 were used to evaluate the patients' quality of life when after radiotherapy and when after 6 months post the radiotherapy, respectively. The incidence of radiodermatitis was 100% in both groups, and the difference in the grade of radiodermatitis and quality of life was significant (P < .05) between them. Team health education under the JCI standards team can reduce the degree of skin injury due to radiodermatitis and improve the quality of life.

Is ISO20121 Certification a Detour or Gamechanger for Eco-Striving Sport Events? A Conceptual Typology.

An increasing number of sport organizations express interest in international accreditation standards as a way of tackling environmental sustainability (ES) challenges. This article, however, argues that the commercial context of these standards and “the bazaar economy” in which its suppliers operate may hamper the diverse solutions needed to reduce the ecological footprint of sport. At the same time, it acknowledges that standards are useful to certain sporting organizations. To sort out the pros and cons of the relation between such standards and ES work in sport organizations, the Formula E (for Electric) championship is used as case example. The championship became the first category in motorsport to receive ISO certification in 2018, and 2 years later, it achieved net zero carbon footprint from inception. On that basis, the article provides a typology that provides coordinates for empirical research on how sport organizations may avoid “organizational hypocrisy” in their ES work by viewing the pros and cons of ISO certification. While the practical implication is insight into what it takes for a sport organization to achieve a specific certification, the academic implication is conceptual coordinates for empirical and comparative research of ES initiatives and certifications.

Combating Academic Corruption and Enhancing Academic Integrity through International Accreditation Standards: The Model of Qatar University

Academic institutions aim at achieving the highest standards of education and learning. Consequently, they prohibit academic corruption such as cheating or plagiarism. This article examines how international accreditation and quality assurance standards embody academic integrity as a main factor in deciding whether an academic institution should be accredited, and what ranking should an academic institution acquire in a competitive contest for educational excellence. Academic integrity is broadly defined to include, in addition to cheating and plagiarism, compliance with standards of human rights, labor rights, corporate social responsibility, ant-corruption measures, environmental protection, social media usage, protection of underage students, anti-radicalization and extremism, avoidance of conflict of interest, faculty professionalism, students codes of conduct and human experimentation. Academic institutions should adopt policies that are designed to address these diverse standards and accommodate diversity and enhance access to education for all without discrimination. Academic institutions should also strictly require the highest standards in teaching and research. This article will discuss the different policies, laws, rules and regulations adopted by Qatar University as a model for incorporating academic integrity, which may be of interest to the international higher education community. This article will ask two main questions; are accrediting institutions asking the right questions to find out whether an academic institution strictly adheres to a policy of academic integrity, and whether policies adopted by academic institutions, Qatar University as a model, are adequate to address various violations of academic integrity.

Design of Student and Course Learning Outcomes Measurement

Measurement of the outcomes becomes a vital part in OBE system to ensure the attainment of each outcome. In Indonesia, OBE was adopted in 2015 for higher education level. However, the changes were not accompanied with clear method to measure the outcomes, which became the urgency of this research. In this study, a preliminary method to measure student learning outcomes (SLO) and course learning outcomes (CLO) was presented. The measurement of SLO and CLO attainment was started by SLO mapping to courses, which usually had been done at curriculum design. Based on the mapping, formulation of CLO with a set of direct assessment was planned at the start of each course. After the teaching learning activities, a series of calculation was designed to obtain the attainment of SLO and CLO for each student, course, and whole study program. In the same time the final mark for GPA calculation of each student could also be obtained. The designed method could play an essential part in teaching-learning quality assurance and curriculum continuous improvement, which is aligned with both international and national accreditation criteria and standards. Furthermore, this study could provide insight for other study program in SLO and CLO attainment measurement.

Promoting patients\u2019 rights through hospital accreditation

Legislation and accreditation standards both address patients’ rights. The two approaches differ in important ways; they should not be seen as competing but as complementing efforts. Laws define minimum standards, whereas accreditation standards describe optimal performance; laws focus on the rights, whereas accreditation standards also point out ways in which hospitals may act to deliver these rights, which both serves to help hospitals implementing the rights and to standardize the measures taken across hospitals. A recent Israeli study underpins this view, but also highlights that international accreditation standards and national legislation may differ, when it comes to the definition of the actual rights.

The Extent of Conformity of Academic Programs Outcomes at the College of Engineering, The University of Jordan to ABET Standards from the Viewpoint of Faculty Members and Quality Assurance Representatives

The current study aimed to identify the extent to which the academic outcomes of the programs of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Jordan conform to the American accreditation standards "ABET". To achieve the study objective, the qualitative method was followed and three tools were used: standardized open-ended interviews, participant observation, and analysis of documents collected from the field. Major findings revealed that engineering departments which were granted accreditation seek to achieve the academic outcomes of the programs that emanate from the international accreditation standards of ABET by a periodic continuous comprehensive evaluation system of all activities of the teaching process. Internal accreditation committees are formed in the engineering departments consisting of academic staff, administrative professionals and specialists with experience in monitoring and evaluation. The Faculty of Engineering has benefited from achieving the minimum standards of accreditation in improving the quality of learning outcomes and obtaining accredited university degrees similar to any degree in an accredited American university. The engineering departments also seek to improve the infrastructure and provision of equipment appropriate to the standards through obtaining institutional support. Despite the existence of some obstacles and challenges facing the engineering departments, they have benefited from accreditation. It was recommended to apply accreditation standards for all academic majors in universities for their importance for students, faculty members and the profession.&#x0D; Keywords: academic outcomes, faculty of engineering, University of Jordan, abet accreditation standards, faculty, quality representatives.