Trained Males Research Articles

Postgraduate Trainees' Perception of the Clinical Learning Environment at an Iranian Medical Sciences University

BACKGROUND and PURPOSE: Clinical learning environment is an influential component of the educational experience. This study measures the learning environment across all of resident physicians at Guilan University of Medical Sciences (GUMS) in Iran by using Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure (PHEEM), and identifies areas for change to enhance residents experiences. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at GUMS during summer 2011. The 40-item PHEEM is an evaluation tool consisting of a validated questionnaire with 3 subscales: perceptions of autonomy, social support and teaching which are factors perceived to be influencing the educational environment. The questionnaire was distributed to all residents in clinical wards of university hospitals at GUMS. Collected data were analyzed by using SPSS18 software. RESULTS: Trainees' perception of clinical learning environment was more positive than negative. There were differences in perceptions of the learning environment between the junior and senior trainees but no significant difference between male and female Trainees in educational environment subscales. CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed that the educational climate was generally perceived positively by trainees and trainees were happy with their teaching, their supports and the work they did. The study also showed problematic components of learning environment in our university hospitals which enabled us to adopt some remedial measures.

To Belong or Not to Belong

Women continue to be underrepresented in traditionally masculine occupations. We argue that this may be explained in part by women’s perceptions that they do not fit in with the dominant identities in these occupations, contributing to occupational disidentification and an inclination to “opt out.” We tested this argument in two samples of trainee surgeons. Study 1 (N = 129 female trainees) showed that women perceived a lack of fit with the masculine surgeon prototype and that, as expected, this perception was associated with a reduction in occupational identification and an increased desire to opt out. Study 2 (N = 216 male and female trainees) showed that women’s perceived lack of fit with the surgeon prototype was greater than men’s, and that this accounted for women’s relative disidentification.

An Investigation into Ambiguity Tolerance in Iranian Senior EFL Undergraduates

The present study aimed to explore how tolerant of ambiguity Iranian EFL learners at university level are and if gender plays a role in this regard. To this end , upon filling in the revised SLTAS scale of ambiguity tolerance 194 male and female Iranian teacher trainees were assigned to three ambiguity tolerance groups; namely, high, moderate and low. Cluster analysis of the SLTAS scores indicated that Iranian EFL learners were mostly moderate as far as tolerance of ambiguity was concerned. Examining the gender differences through an independent sample t-test manifested that female participants were less tolerant of ambiguity than their male peers. Also, the differences between the expected and observed number of participants categorized in the three AT groups were non-significant undermining the role of gender as a moderator variable in assigning participants to AT groups and further approving of SLTAS validity. Implications for classroom practice are presented in the light of findings. The results are helpful in syllabus design and teaching methodology.

The First Feminist Sex Research Reception at the International Academy of Sex Research

The First Feminist Sex Research Reception at the International Academy of Sex Research (IASR) occurred on August 11, 2011, at the Los Angeles conference. It was an exciting event—exciting to plan, exciting to attend, and exciting to follow up on. I organized the reception with my colleague, Terri Conley. We both have research programs primarily devoted to sex research though we use very different approaches. In addition, we are both jointly appointed in Psychology and Women’s Studies at the University of Michigan. Our overlapping positions and sensibilities as feminist sex researchers helped foment our concern with the lack of visibility for feminist sex research as well as its dispersion and lack of organizing force or community, especially at IASR. Plus, we were acutely aware of its lack of parties. We were committed to addressing these issues as best we could. I approached Dr. Conley with the idea of the reception and she enthusiastically agreed. Though we originally thought to request funds from our departments to sponsor the event, we realized that we could each put forward some of our discretionary funds given our joint interest. We went about selecting an evening that contained no other IASR planning and a location that might be appropriate for a reception. Initially, I explored the possibility of a community room in the conference dormitory, which culminated in a call from an IASR officer wondering what sort of wild party we were planning (I was flattered, in part, to be thought capable of such revelry). Dr. Conley instead found The Glendon Bar & Kitchen, which contained a reservable private upper level for no charge so long as we paid for a quota of food. We invited a few senior feminist scholars we knew as special guests to help make the event attractive. We were delighted to have enthusiastic acceptances from Lisa Diamond, Cynthia Graham, Stephanie Sanders, Ine Vanwesenbeeck, and Leonore Tiefer, who represented major scholars, past-presidents of IASR and/or SSSS (Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality), the Editor of the Journal of Sex Research, and who were interested in mentoring junior colleagues. We used informal means to pass the word out, including fliers at IASR (we were actually concerned about the potential anti-feminist backlash a more formal effort might engender; no small concern given that we are both pre-tenure). Word spread about the reception and we were excited about the buzz. Is a feminist reception needed at IASR? We felt that organizing an event would help build community among a disparate group of scholars with a shared commitment to feminist approaches. We also felt that some students might be interested in feminist approaches but not have access to feminist scholars and that the reception would help build a network for them. Other experiences, at IASR itself, helped to make clear just how important the feminist reception was. For example, a number of male trainees tossed anti-feminist epithets at two of my ultrapolite Midwestern students, who were holding a sign directing people to the reception. These outspoken conference attendees then told my students that no men would be at the reception, to which one of the young men standing with my students responded ‘‘Well, I’m going.’’ To which these lovely young inclusive conference attendees clarified‘‘no straight men.’’I’m not exactly sure whether these men were suggesting that events

Men in a female-majority profession: Q-sort narratives of male clinical psychology trainees

In a development of research reported in a previous issue ofForum(December 2007), we present four narratives from male trainees’ Q-sorts of statements about attraction to working in clinical psychology.

Opening the black box: the patient mix of GP trainees

The variety of health problems (patient mix) that medical trainees encounter is presumed to be sufficient to master the required competencies. To describe the patient mix of GP trainees, to study differences in patient mix between first-year and third-year GP trainees, and to investigate differences in exposure to sex-specific diseases between male and female trainees. Prospective cohort study in Dutch primary care. During a 6-month period, aggregated data about International Classification of Primary Care diagnosis codes, and data on the sex and age of all contacts were collected from the electronic patient record (EPR) system. Seventy-three trainees participated in this study. The mean coding percentage was 86% and the mean number of face-to-face consultations per trimester was 450.0 in the first year and 485.4 in the third year, indicating greater variance in the number of patient contacts among third-year trainees. Diseases seen most frequently were: musculoskeletal (mean per trimester = 89.2 in the first year/91.0 in the third year), respiratory (98.2/92.7) and skin diseases (89.5/96.0). Least often seen were diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs (5.3/7.2), male genital disorders (6.1/7.1), and social problems (4.3/4.2). The mean number of chronic diseases seen per trimester was 48.0 for first-year trainees and 62.4 for third-year trainees. Female trainees saw an average of 39.8 female conditions per trimester--twice as many as male trainees (mean = 21.3). Considerable variation exists trainees in the number of patient contacts. Differences in patient mix between first- and third-year trainees seem at least partly related to year-specific learning objectives. The use of an EPR-derived educational instrument provides insight into the trainees' patient mix at both the group and the individual level. This offers opportunities for GP trainers, trainees, and curriculum designers to optimise learning when exposure may be low.

A multilevel examination of the influence of trainee‐trainer gender dissimilarity and trainee‐classroom gender composition dissimilarity on trainee knowledge acquisition

AbstractWe examined the extent to which a trainee's gender interacts with the gender of the trainer, as well as the gender composition of the classroom, to influence the trainee's knowledge acquisition. Hypotheses based on asymmetrical relational demography arguments were tested with a multilevel model on data collected from 1,515 predominantly Hispanic adult trainees in 115 classrooms taught by a total of 22 different trainers. Results supported an asymmetrical relational demography effect for the relationship between trainee‐trainer gender dissimilarity and knowledge acquisition, such that trainer‐trainee dissimilarity was related to knowledge acquisition for female trainees, but not for male trainees. No effects on trainee knowledge acquisition were observed for the trainee gender and classroom gender composition interaction. Exploratory analyses suggested that the racial diversity of the classroom was related to the knowledge acquisition of female trainees, but not male trainees.

Posterior Distal Tibial Fracture in a Military Trainee

The patient was an 18-year-old male military trainee who presented to a physical therapist with a chief complaint of right ankle pain following a combined plantar flexion-eversion ankle injury 3 days earlier. Based on the suspicion of a fracture, ankle radiographs were ordered by the physical therapist. On the lateral radiographic view, a longitudinal nondisplaced fracture of the posterior aspect of the distal tibia was appreciated. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2011;41(8):615. doi:10.2519/jospt.2011.0417

Special Needs Education In-Service Teacher Trainees’ Views on Inclusive Education in Zimbabwe

The study investigated special needs education (SNE) in-service teacher trainees' views on inclusive education in Zimbabwe. Participants were 76 SNE in-service teacher trainees (37 male, 39 female) from Great Zimbabwe University' s Faculty of Education. A questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. There were no significant differences between male and female SNE in-service teacher trainees' views on inclusive education. The trainees believed that the present Zimbabwean curriculum did not meet the needs of SNE children, inclusive education affected the teaching methods used, only specialist teachers could handle included children and that regular class teachers could not easily adapt their teaching programmes to accommodate included children. The trainees also believed that Zimbabwe was not ready for inclusive education and that parents of children without disabilities resented inclusion. Recommendations on the improvement of inclusive education in Zimbabwe especially in teacher training were made.

Transfer of knowledge through expatriates nationals (TOKTEN) as a gender sensitive development assistance modality in patriarchal societies: An example from Kassala State, Eastern Sudan

Transfer of knowledge through expatriate nationals (TOKTEN) initiative is a UNDP technical assistance modality that aims at human resource capacity building in countries that suffer from brain-drain. One of the main constraints that impede maximum contribution of human resource development programs towards sustainable development is lack of gender-sensitivity. TOKTEN initiative is believed to overcome this constraint. Thus, this paper will examine this thesis in the Sudanese setting. Data were collected from 46 trainees who attended a training workshop arranged through TOKTEN initiative. t-Test was used to examine the difference in the level of knowledge of the male and female trainees about the different concepts and topics under consideration before and after the workshop. The study results reflected a significant improvement in the trainees’ level of knowledge with no significant difference between the mean level of knowledge of the male and female trainees. Thus, the main advantage of TOKTEN initiative is its’ capability to build human resource capacity in patriarchal societies without inducing gender disparity. Consequently, TOKTEN initiative should be promoted and expanded particularly in resource poor and patriarchal societies.

The Influence of Periodized Resistance Training on Strength Changes in Men and Women

The purpose of this study was to contrast the response of previously resistance-trained male and female recreational athletes with a traditionally periodized resistance training program. Sixty subjects (age = 22.8 ± 4.5 years) were assigned to 3 groups: male training (MT), n = 20; female training (FT), n = 20; and control, n = 20 (men, n = 10; women, n = 10). The MT and FT groups completed 12 weeks of traditional periodized strength training, with strength testing at baseline and at weeks 8 and 12. The training programs were identical (e.g., rest time, exercises, volume, and intensity) in both groups. In weeks 1 and 2, the FT and MT groups were trained 3 d·wk (324 repetitions [reps]·wk) and thereafter 4 d·wk (mean 642 reps·wk). The mean volume and intensity over the 12 weeks was 571 reps·wk and 69.7% of 1 repetition maximum. Results indicated that the men were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) stronger in absolute terms at baseline and at weeks 8 and 12. The FT group (increase = 26.2% at week 8 and 38.1% at week 12) made significantly (p ≤ 0.05) greater percent increases in strength than the MT group (increase = 17.7% at week 8 and 28.0% at week 12). The FT and MT groups made significant (p ≤ 0.05) changes in relative strength at all time points, but the MT group demonstrated greater relative strength on lateral pull-down and dumbbell shoulder press. In practical terms, the men were absolutely stronger than the women, but the women were more responsive to the periodized resistance training program. Twelve weeks of traditionally periodized resistance training induced meaningful strength gains in women (≥ 30%) and men (≥ 25%) with prior (approximately 11 months) nonperiodized resistance training experience.

“HOOAH!” A Case of Pneumomediastinum in the Military Training Environment; Hamman's Sign 71 Years Later

A previously healthy 20-year-old male trainee developed chest pain, shortness of breath, and neck pain after repeatedly shouting "Hooah!" during a motivational squad competition. He was found to have developed a pneumomediastinum with soft tissue crepitus of the neck. He had an uneventful recovery. Unique to the military training environment, vigorous shouting, including "Hooah!" as a motivational stimulus, can have barotraumatic consequences. The term "spontaneous" as applied to a pneumomediastinum diagnosis is examined and the auscultatory finding of "Hamman's sign" is reviewed.

Personality and Mental Health: An Investigation of South African Police Trainees

The relationship between personality and mental health was investigated in one cohort of police trainees at a South African police academy (1145 police recruits; 648 men, 497 women). Male trainees reported less somatisation, depression, anxiety, and phobic anxiety symptoms and lower harm avoidance as well as higher persistence than female trainees. A cluster analysis based on the personality scores was used to identify three clusters with personality profiles characterized as Vulnerable, Healthy, and Intermediate profiles. Sociodemographic variables and temperament and character domain scores contributed separately and differentially to the explanation of variance in mental health symptom scores. Selection tools should be developed to identify vulnerable individuals in terms of personality characteristics during selection and prior to training, to prevent later problems with stress reactions. Additional training modules focusing on coping skills could possibly reduce vulnerability to stress in some trainees.

Gender Differences in Trainee Evaluations of Gastroenterology Faculty

Gender Differences in Trainee Evaluations of Gastroenterology Faculty

Gender identity, research self‐efficacy and research intention in trainee clinical psychologists in the UK

This study tested, with a sample of United Kingdom (UK) trainee clinical psychologists, part of an existing model of factors that influence clinical psychologists' levels of research activity, in which gender identity is hypothesized to influence research self-efficacy and this in turn strength of intention to do research. A sample of 121 trainee clinical psychologists (56 men and 65 women) completed a measure of gender identity, research intention, and a research self-efficacy scale. Results indicated no differences in levels of research intention or research self-efficacy between the biological sexes or according to category-based gender identities (masculine and feminine). However, masculinity as a scale quantity was statistically significantly related to stronger research intention, preference for conducting quantitative research and research self-efficacy. Multiple regression analysis provided evidence that research self-efficacy may mediate between masculinity and strength of research intention. Research self-efficacy was the strongest predictor of intention to do research in the future. Findings have relevance for clinical psychology training as research activity directly impacts upon advances in the discipline of clinical psychology, implementation of research into practice, and evaluation of psychological therapies.

What do secondary trainee teachers say about teaching as a profession of their “choice” in Malawi?

This interview-based qualitative study is concerned with the recruitment of secondary teachers in Malawi. This study shows a range of perspectives for pursuing a teacher training course: failure to follow a desired career, springboard to other careers, to upgrade, and teaching out of vocation. It shows that trainee teachers held a range of images about teaching: its ability to enhance knowledge; low pay with no incentives, low status profession, and lack of trust of male trainee teachers. Teacher educators and policy makers need to consider the perspectives of trainee teachers to reduce resource wastage and support trainee teachers appropriately.

No Effect Of Cigarette Smoking On Calf Muscle Size And Density Changes Following Military Training

Training results in adaptations including reductions in body fatness, increases in muscle cross-sectional area and a reduction in ectopic fat in skeletal muscle (increased muscle density). Cigarette smoking has been reported to inhibit performance adaptations in response to military training, but little is known about the effect of smoking on training-induced changes in muscle size and composition. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to: (1) characterise the effect of 10 weeks of military training on muscle and fat cross-sectional areas and muscle density, and (2) evaluate the effect of cigarette smoking on these changes. METHODS: Seventy-eight male military trainees (age, 20.3 (3.3) years; height, 178.1 (7.0) cm; mass 74.5 (8.4) kg) consented to take part and completed a validated lifestyle questionnaire before undertaking 10 weeks of infantry training. At weeks 0 and 10, body mass was measured and a lower-leg peripheral QCT (pQCT) scan (Stratec/ Norland XCT 2000LTM) was performed to evaluate muscle and subcutaneous adipose cross-sectional areas of the calf and average calf muscle density. RESULTS: Smokers (n = 49) and non-smokers (n= 29) were not different at baseline for muscle area (smokers vs. non-smokers; 8283 (836) vs. 8058 (828) mm2, P=0.25), subcutaneous adipose area (1735 (5022) vs. 1650 (595) mm2, P=0.52), muscle density (75.8 (1.1) vs. 75.8 (2.0) mg/cm3, P=0.98) or body mass (74.9 (8.7) vs. 73.9 (8.1) kg, P=0. 62). Ten weeks of military training increased muscle area (week 0 vs. week 10; time effect, P<0.01; 8199(835) vs. 8532 (925) mm2), muscle density (time effect, P=0.02; 75.8 (1.5) vs. 76.2 (1.3) mg/cm3) and body mass (time effect, P=0.05; 74.5 (8.4) vs. 75.3 (7.2) kg) in smokers and non-smokers, but there was no interaction effect. Subcutaneous adipose cross-sectional area did not change significantly over the period of training (time effect, P=0.22; 1703 (536) vs. 1662 (493) mm2). CONCLUSIONS: Ten weeks of military training resulted in significant increases in calf muscle cross-sectional area and muscle density, but did not influence subcutaneous adipose cross-sectional area. Smoking status did not influence the magnitude of any changes.

La neuropraxie de l’aide-opératoire ? Un cas inhabituel de lésion du nerf cutané latéral de l’avant-bras

Summary Compression of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm is an uncommon diagnosis but has been associated with strenuous upper limb activity. We report the unique case of a 32-year-old male orthopaedic trainee who suffered this nerve palsy as a result of prolonged elbow exension and forearm pronation while the single assistant during a hip resurfacing procedure. Conservative measures were sufficent for sensory recovery to be clinically detectable after 12 weeks.

Gender balance in primary initial teacher education: some current perspectives

The drive to recruit more male primary teachers has been a longstanding aim of many Western countries. Within England the Training and Development Agency for Schools has undertaken a 10‐year marketing campaign to increase the numbers with limited success. Researchers have attempted to analyse the reasons for this failure, considering many areas, for example, the feminisation of the teaching profession, the low status of the primary teacher and concerns about child protection. This paper discusses the findings of a research study undertaken by a group of providers of ITE (initial teacher education) aiming to examine current issues relating to the recruitment and retention of male students in primary ITE. Many similar studies have researched only the male ‘voice’. However, in an attempt to explore any differences in contributory factors, the research reported here examined views of both successful male and female trainees on ITE courses and their course providers. The findings indicated that gender was overwhelmingly seen as irrelevant by trainees themselves. Where there was a significant difference to other studies it was that there was no significant gender difference observed in relation to concerns about child protection. The study also identified successful strategies for retention and completion. Within these there was however a gender divide and the research highlighted that some strategies were seen as particularly supportive for male trainees. Where this is the case it is important that providers/policy makers acknowledge these and continue to address particular groups’ needs.

Test-retest reliability of the Military Pre-training Questionnaire

Musculoskeletal injuries are a significant cause of morbidity during military training. A brief, inexpensive and user-friendly tool that demonstrates reliability and validity is warranted to effectively monitor the relationship between multiple predictor variables and injury incidence in military populations. To examine the test-retest reliability of the Military Pre-training Questionnaire (MPQ), designed specifically to assess risk factors for injury among military trainees across five domains (physical activity, injury history, diet, alcohol and smoking). Analyses were based on a convenience sample of 58 male British Army trainees. Kappa (kappa), weighted kappa (kappa(w)) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to evaluate the 2-week test-retest reliability of the MPQ. For index measures constituting the assessment of a given construct, internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's alpha (alpha) coefficients. Reliability of individual items ranged from poor to almost perfect (kappa range = 0.45-0.86; kappa(w) range = 0.11-0.91; ICC range = 0.34-0.86) with most items demonstrating moderate reliability. Overall scores related to physical activity, diet, alcohol and smoking constructs were reliable between both administrations (ICC = 0.63-0.85). Support for the internal consistency of the incorporated alcohol (alpha = 0.78) and cigarette (alpha = 0.75) scales was also provided. The MPQ is a reliable self-report instrument for assessing multiple injury-related risk factors during initial military training. Further assessment of the psychometric properties of the MPQ (e.g. different types of validity) with military populations/samples will support its interpretation and use in future surveillance and epidemiological studies.