Mean Years Of Experience Research Articles

DBT Skills Training Groups for School Personnel Working in High-Need Schools

The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges for school communities with long term impacts still unknown. School personnel working in high need, low wealth schools are uniquely at risk for pandemic-related stress given extensive changes to their work life and concerns regarding student trauma exposure. We delivered DBT skills training to 39 school personnel (89% female, mean years of experience was 18.49 [SD = 7.88]). Close to 20% of the sample reported moderate-to-severe anxiety, depression, and stress and substantial impact of COVID-19 on loved ones. Multilevel regressions indicated significant decreases in stress between the 1st-2nd sessions attended (p = .004), and the 3rd-6th sessions attended (p = .04). Sessions 7-8 were not associated with significant decreases in stress (p = .51). Study limitations, implications, and conclusions are discussed.

Perception and knowledge of general practitioners on COPD management according to the GOLD23 document and reimbursement criteria for drugs prescription: an e-Delphi study

Background COPD management and therapy have been periodically revised to support a more patient-specific approach. Several concerns remain in primary care, such as the proper choice of initial treatment, medication adherence, and missing values for spirometry investigations. These concerns may be exacerbated by inconsistencies between the GOLD23 report and reimbursement criteria, as per the Italian NOTA99, especially for what concerns the assessment of disease severity and related treatment choice. We therefore examined the perception and knowledge of general practitioners (GPs) on COPD management and treatment. Methods We conducted an exploratory e-Delphi study among 600 GPs. The study examined the COPD-related GP's access to spirometry evaluations in primary care clinics; knowledge on early recognition of COPD and related clinical concerns; perception of the clinical application of the NOTA99; the place in therapy of the triple LABA/LAMA/ICS combination. Results Among 466 participating GPs (response rate: 70.3%; mean age 52, SD: 14.2; mean years of experience: 21.3, SD: 15) had a good level of knowledge about the GOLD 2023 document and the reimbursement criteria for COPD medications. Nevertheless, a low (34%) direct access to spirometry was reported, along with absence of consensus on the proper choice of initial treatment (especially of use of LABA/LAMA combination), and the re-evaluation of free-triple therapy LABA/LAMA/ICS through specialist’s referral. Conclusions This study captured the domains on which further training for GPs might be implemented to improve the management and treatment of COPD. An extension of this e-Delphi to a larger GPs’ panel might further confirm these findings.

Attitudes of Emergency Department Staff Toward Individuals Who Have Attempted Suicide and Associated Factors.

To determine the attitudes of emergency department (ED) staff toward people who have attempted suicide and the factors associated with these attitudes. This study was conducted between January and February 2023 and included 147 participants working in an ED in a city in Türkiye. Data were collected using a personal information form and the Attitude Scale Towards Attempted Suicide Cases for Evaluating Emergency Medical Teams (ASETSA). Participants' mean years of experience in emergency services was 4.63 years (SD = 3.97 years) and mean perceived level of competence in intervening in suicidal behavior was 6.08 (SD = 2.16). Total mean ASETSA score of participants was 114.68 (SD = 12.31). Factors such as marital status, educational level, profession, working unit, working shift, having received training on how to approach a person who has attempted suicide, existence of a written procedure in the department, years of ED experience, and perceived level of competence in intervening in suicidal behavior were associated with positive attitudes toward people who have attempted suicide. It is recommended that formal education curricula address how to approach people who have attempted suicide, that randomized controlled trials regarding the impact of in-service training be performed, and that studies evaluating the contribution of trainings to improvements in patient outcomes be conducted. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(xx), xx-xx.].

Identification of Sources of Complexity in Various Types of Building Projects in India Based on Design and Performance Attributes

Building projects as sub-sect of construction projects are complex and different in design and performance attributes. The prominent classes of building projects are high-rise residential buildings, hospitals, hotels, general offices, retail buildings/malls, educational institutions, and warehouses. In this study, building projects have been classified based on their end use. Complexities vary between construction projects and within various types of building projects, as well as across regions and countries. Understanding the sources of complexity is imperative to strategize their successful development. This research paper attempts to identify the sources of complexities using the design and performance attributes of seven prominent building types. A survey was conducted through experienced architects and construction professionals (the mean years of experience being approximately 13.88 years) over 34 different attributes or parameters under six categories. These attributes have been shortlisted from past research work by various authors, and the pilot study for this project. The Kruskal-Wallis Test was used to calculate the mean ranking and to confirm that the medians of each building type were not the same when compared against each attribute, irrespective of the level of complexity. Using data analysis and the mean ranking scores as a representation of relative complexity, primary sources of complexity in each class of buildings have been identified and listed. The results indicate that hospitals (as a building typology) are relatively the most complex building facilities in terms of design and performance attributes, showing the highest mean ranking towards 16 attributes (with only one shared ranking). Hospitals are followed by retail/malls (10 with one shared ranking), hotels (3), high-rise residential buildings (4), educational institutions (2), general offices (0), and warehouses (0). Strategies to manage these attributes have been proposed for each building typology so that the risks emanating from the complexities of these building projects can be mitigated and effectively managed at the design stage.

Physician Empathy and Its Relation to Age, Gender, and Years of Experience

Abstract Background: Empathy is a necessary clinical skill; it is a key element of physician–patient relations which have a significant role in the effectiveness of health care, the physician must have the competence to understand the patient’s situation, perspective, and feelings, and to act on that understanding in a helpful therapeutic way. A highly empathetic doctor is the dream of every patient. Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the level of empathy among physicians at Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital and to assess its relation to age, gender, and years of experience. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 physicians working at Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq; the data collection was from April 14 to August 14, 2023. The data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire which consists of sociodemographic variables and questions of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy health professional version. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 24. Results: Three hundred physicians participated in the study. The mean age was 31.66 ± 5.288 years, 46% males and 54% females. The mean years of experience were 6.89 ± 5.551 years, 62.7% people-oriented physicians and 37.3% were technology oriented the majority of the people oriented were females and the majority of technology oriented were males. The median score was 102.00 with an interquartile range of 20.75, no significant association was found with gender or medical discipline. The median empathy score of physicians who had <10 years’ experience appeared to be significantly higher in comparison to other groups; (P < 0.001), and also in juniors and the age group of 25–35 years. Conclusions: Empathy scores of younger physicians with <10 years of experience were significantly higher than other physicians, indicating that there is empathy decline as the years of experience increase that could be attributed to numerous factors that need to be further evaluated.

ChatGPT May Help Inform Patients in Dental Implantology.

Patients may have high expectations regarding dental implants based on the source of their information, which can lead to challenges in clinical communication. This study aims to evaluate the quality of responses provided by Chat Generative Pretrained Transformer (ChatGPT, OpenAI), an artificial intelligence (AI) program, to patient questions in the field of dental implantology. This study was prospectively designed as a cross-sectional study. Frequently asked questions by patients about general information on dental implantology (Part 1) and dental implant brands (Part 2) were posed to the ChatGPT program. Responses were independently assessed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons (Group 1; n = 10), periodontologists (Group 2; n = 10), prosthodontists (Group 3; n = 10), and general dentists (Group 4; n = 10) using the Global Quality Scale (GQS, scored from 1 [low quality] to 5 [high quality]). There was a total of 60 questions, with 30 questions in each part. Participants in the study were evenly distributed by gender (50% female, 50% male) with a mean age of 32.6 ± 4.07 years. The mean years of experience were 8.5 ± 3.12 years. There were no significant differences in mean age, gender, and years of experience among the groups (P > .05). The overall mean GQS score was 3.87 ± 0.29. Part 1 had a mean score of 3.9 ± 0.35, and Part 2 had a mean score of 3.85 ± 0.29, with no statistically significant difference (P > .05). The AI platform may contribute to the additional education of patients in the field of dental implantology and aid in understanding treatment procedures. However, it is concerning that ChatGPT may exhibit bias regarding dental implant brands, which could impact patient guidance.

Secondary School Athletic Trainers' Perceptions of the Influence of Social Determinants of Health and Socioeconomic Status on Clinical Management Decisions.

Evidence suggests that lower socioeconomic status (SES) and negative social determinants of health (SDOH) contribute to health care disparities. Due to their accessibility in the high school setting, secondary school athletic trainers (SSATs) may encounter patients who are historically underserved in health care, such as patients with low SES. However, a significant gap in knowledge exists regarding how SDOH and SES may influence SSATs' clinical management decisions. To describe SSATs' perceptions of how patient SDOH and SES influence clinical management decisions and to identify barriers to athletic health care. Cross-sectional study. Online survey. National Athletic Trainers' Association SSATs (6.7% response rate). Secondary school athletic trainers were asked about their perceptions of patient SDOH and SES (content validity index = 0.83 for relevancy). The levels of relevance and agreement were answered on a 4-point Likert scale. Data were summarized using means and SDs, frequencies and proportions (%), and median scores. A total of 380 SSATs participated (mean years of experience = 14.9 ± 11.7 years). When providing care, most (71.3%) SSATs believed their patients' health or health care access to be the most relevant of the 5 SDOH, whereas the other 4 SDOH were less than 60% relevant. Most SSATs agreed or strongly agreed that patient SES affected both referral (67.4%) and the reliance on conservative treatment before referral (71.2%). Secondary school athletic trainers identified patient or guardian compliance (70.2%) and type of health insurance (61.5%) as barriers to providing care to patients with low SES. Secondary school athletic trainers perceived health or health care access as the most relevant social determinant when providing care to patients with low SES. When SSATs further considered the SES of patients, they identified all SDOH as barriers that they were ill equipped to navigate as they delivered care and engaged in patient referral.

The management of paediatric acute pain in Spain in 2021: Results of a national survey among paediatric anaesthesiologists

ObjectiveTo improve knowledge about routine clinical practice in the management of paediatric acute pain in Spain. MethodsA telematic survey was conducted via the Internet on a representative sample of healthcare professionals involved in the management of paediatric acute pain (specifically anaesthesiologists) in Spain. The survey included 28 questions about their usual clinical practice in the assessment and treatment of acute pain, and also training and organisational aspects in paediatric acute pain. ResultsThe survey was completed during March 2021 by 150 specialists in anaesthesiology. The respondents widely experienced in the management of acute paediatric pain (mean years of experience: 14.3: SD: 7.8), essentially in acute postoperative pain (97% of cases). Although 80% routinely used validated paediatric acute pain assessment scales, only 2.6% used specific scales adapted for patients with cognitive impairment. Most of the respondents routinely used analgesic drugs such as paracetamol (99%) or metamizole (92%), but only 84% complemented these drugs with a loco-regional blocking technique or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (62%). Furthermore, only 62.7% acknowledged having received specific training in paediatric acute pain, only 45% followed hospital institutional protocols, and a scant 28% did so through paediatric pain units. ConclusionsThe survey identified important points for improvement in the training and organisation of acute pain management in Spanish paediatric patients.

CONSTRAINTS FACING AGROSILVOPASTORAL PRACTICES AMONG HOUSEHOLDS IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Agrosilvopastoral practices are recognized as a link between agriculture, forestry and a sustainable strategy for land management, particularly in tropical and subtropical developing nations. This study examined the limitations of agrosilvopastoral practices among households in Ogun State. A well thought out questionnaire was used to gather information from 240 respondents in total. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data collected. Findings revealed that agrosilvopastoral practices were dominated by men, with a mean age and family size of 54 years and 6 persons respectively. More over half (62.25%) of the farmers were literate with mean years of experience in farming being 26years. Result revealed that inadequate capital (1st) is the most serious challenge facing the agrosilvopastoral households, followed by insect infestation (2nd), instability in market price (3rd), inadequate access to land for farming (4th), high cost of transportation (5th), insufficient market centers (6th), source of inputs (7th), technical knowledge (8th), mode of land acquisition (9th) and animal destruction of crops (10th). The study thereby recommends that extension workers from different organizations should educate farmers about agrosilvopastoral practices through seminars, and backing being offered to farmers in the terms of loans, hybrid seeds and credit provision for increased production.

Outcome measures for young people with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A qualitative exploration of healthcare professionals' perceptions and practices.

Limited knowledge exists on current use of patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) and performance measures for adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), as well as health care professionals' (HCPs) perceived barriers and facilitators towards their use. This study's objectives were: 1) to explore current practice of HCPs when assessing outcomes for AIS 2) to understand perceived barriers and facilitators of HCPs to use PROMs 3) to understand perceived barriers and facilitators of HCPs to use performance measures. A qualitative study recruited a purposive sample of HCPs from a tertiary hospital in the United Kingdom. Mean years of experience managing individuals with AIS was 11.8 years; and included surgeons, physiotherapists and nurses, educated at Bachelor, Masters and Doctoral level. Consent to participate and demographic information were collected in advance of the interviews. In-depth, virtual semi-structured interviews were informed by a topic guide based on current evidence. Interviews of approximately 45 minutes were audio and video recorded and transcribed verbatim alongside written field notes. Data were coded and analysed using inductive thematic analysis, involving researchers with topic and methodological expertise and input from a patient representative. Two themes emerged regarding current practice of using PROMs routine practice and personal evaluations. Four themes emerged as barriers to using PROMs for individuals with AIS: priority and support (e.g., HCPs focus on providing care), practical challenges (e.g., inadequate PROMs), patient-related challenges (e.g., patient preferences) and knowledge, education, and perceived value. Two themes emerged as facilitators: quality existing measure (e.g., sufficient psychometric properties), and priority and support (e.g., research department/culture). Themes for barriers to use performance measures were practicality (e.g., need physical space) and perceived value and knowledge (e.g., PROMs are more important), while the one theme for facilitators was practical consideration (e.g., acceptability). Although HCPs perceived the value of using outcome measures, current practice indicates limited use for individuals with AIS. The findings revealed different barriers and facilitators to implement PROMs in practice. Adopting performance measure are limited due to lack of knowledge and perceived value alongside the practicality, while considering practical factors can improve the use of these measures in practice.

Quality of working life of surgeons in multidisciplinary hospitals

The quality of work life can directly affect both the general wellbeing and safety of the employee. Quality of work life (QWL) is a concept reflecting the employee’s satisfaction with the conditions of his/her labor activity. It can influence work capacity, labor productivity and - if neglected - cause professional burnout of the employee. The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of work life of surgeons in multidisciplinary hospitals using the Walton questionnaire. The study was conducted among surgeons in Saratov and Engels. The quality of work life was assessed using the 35-item Walton questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regressions and Student’s independent t-test were used to analyze the data. Seventy-four surgeons participated in the study, with a mean age of 38.9 years (± 4.3) and mean years of experience of 8 years (± 4.33). The majority (89.2%) rated their QWL as average. The criteria selected as the most influential on overall QWL: ability development and general living space received the highest and lowest scores from the respondents, respectively. In addition to improving the workplaces, equipment and instruments used by surgeons, comprehensive improvement of all factors affecting the quality of work life is needed.

Profit Analysis of Small-Scale Poultry Layers in Iwo Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) Zone of Osun State

This study focused on the profit analysis of small-scale poultry layers in Iwo ADP Zone of Osun State. Data were collected from the poultry farmers using a well-structured questionnaire and multi-stage sampling procedure. A total sample size of one hundred and five (105) poultry farmers was selected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics budgetary analysis and inferential statistical tools (OLS). Results of the study revealed that majority (80%) of the farmers were below 50 years and the farmers’ mean age was 49.5±7.7 years. The majority (95%) of the farmers had primary education and above. The mean year of experience was 11.0±3.4 years. The mean birds reared and profit was 405 birds and N84, 849.54 respectively. Return on investment during the period was N1.04 establishing positive returns. Household size, years of poultry farming experience and stock size were the factors significantly influencing the profit positively. Therefore, it is suggested that poultry farmers in the study area should try to increase their pen size, explore the use of family labour and endeavour to learn new methods of poultry management from farmers with more years of poultry-keeping experience to increase their level of profit.

A retrospective observational study of injury patterns associated with powered circular saw in subjects presenting to the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital.

Powered circular saw-related injuries (PCSRIs) are responsible for a sizable proportion of occupational injuries presented to the emergency department (ED). The present study portrays the mechanisms, injury patterns, epidemiological parameters, and outcomes among subjects presenting with PCSRI to the ED. This retrospective observational study was conducted in the ED of a tertiary care hospital in eastern India. Clinical records of subjects with PCSRI from June 2019 to June 2022 were reviewed. Data pertaining to patients' demographic profiles and the patterns and mechanisms of injury were retrieved. The Modified Hand Injury Severity Score (MHISS) and the Injury Severity Score (ISS) were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using R version 4.1.0. A total of 175 subjects' data were analyzed. The median age was 34.5 years, and all subjects were men. The mean year of experience of the subjects was 6.2. The most common job category was carpentry (n = 63 [36%]), followed by "do it yourself work" (n = 26 [14.8%]). One hundred twenty-two (69.7%) subjects had hand injuries (HIs), and the left hand was involved in 85 (69.6%) subjects. The index finger was involved in 36 (29.5%) subjects, followed by the thumb (n = 31 [25.4%]). Laceration (n = 155 [88.5%]) was the most common injury pattern. The subjects' mean ISS and mean MHISS were 8.52 and 45, respectively. PCSRI is associated with moderate-to-severe HIs that are most common in occupational settings. Young male carpenters involved in wood and plywood work are more prone to injuries.

Comparing Pediatric Surgeons' and Palliative Care Pediatricians’ Palliative Care Practices and Perspectives in Pediatric Surgical Patients

PurposeThe nature of interactions between surgical and pediatric palliative care (PPC) teams caring for seriously ill children is unknown. This study compares pediatric surgeons' and PPC physicians’ perspectives and practices regarding PPC in surgical patients. MethodsA survey was administered to members of the American Pediatric Surgical Association and Pediatric Interest Group of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. ResultsOne hundred twenty-four pediatric surgeons (31% female, 17.2 mean years of experience) and 71 PPC physicians (69% female, 10.1 mean years of experience) participated. Forty-three percent of surgeons reported consulting PPC often for children with serious illnesses. However, most PPC physicians (67%), said they are rarely/never consulted by surgeons (p = 0.002). PPC physicians were more likely to report that PPC involvement was too late (43% vs 21%, p = 0.005). More surgeons than PPC physicians felt that an appropriate time for PPC consultation was during serious illness deterioration (30% vs 7%, p = 0.05), whereas PPC physicians preferred consultation at diagnosis (54% vs 34%, p = 0.05). More PPC physicians (67%) than surgeons (17%) agreed that invasive interventions could be considered a form of PPC (p = 0.002). The most reported barrier to PPC consultation by surgeons (29%) was concern that parents would think the surgical team was giving up. PPC physicians were more likely to perceive barriers to consultation by surgeons than surgeons themselves (p < 0.001). ConclusionWhile pediatric surgeons value PPC involvement, surgical culture and misperception of parental resistance to PPC involvement lead to palliative care consultation only when illness acuity and severity are high, the possibility of curability is low, and death seems imminent. Seeking to understand patient and family priorities in care, managing patient and parental psychological distress, and treating non-surgical symptoms are areas where PPC can improve patient care. Barriers to PPC use and self-reported knowledge gaps in PPC provision may be mitigated by formalized PPC training for surgeons and intentional collaboration between the two groups. Type of StudySurvey. Level of EvidenceN/A.

Midwifery group practice workforce in Australia: A cross-sectional survey of midwives and managers

BackgroundDespite robust evidence on the benefits of midwifery group practice (MGP), there remains difficulties with implementing and sustaining the model. However, contemporary data on the MGP workforce and how each model has been operationalised are limited. This constrains an understanding of the factors that help or hinder implementation and sustainability of MGP. AimTo describe the characteristics of Australian MGPs and the factors that help or hinder sustainability. MethodsA national cross-sectional survey was undertaken in Australia between March 2021 and July 2022, inclusive. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive analysis while qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. FindingsOf 669 survey responses, 579 were midwives and 90 were managers. The mean years of experience for clinical midwives was eight years, and 47.8% (almost twice the national average) completed a Bachelor of Midwifery (BMid). Half (50.2%) the models provided care for women of all risk. Midwives resigned from MGP because of the MGP work conditions (30%) and how the service was managed or supported (12.7%). Managers resigned from MGP because of role changes, conflict with their manager, and limited support. Almost half (42.6%) of MGP managers also managed other areas, leading to heavy workloads, competing demands, and burnout. ConclusionThe BMid appears to be a common educational pathway for MGP midwives, and many MGP services are providing care to women with complexities. Flexible practice agreements, organisational support and appropriate workloads are vital for recruitment, retention, and sustainability of MGP.

Kindergarten teachers’ objective career success and subjective well-being: The mediating role of professional identity

This study explored the relationship between objective career success and subjective well-being in kindergarten teachers and the mediating role of professional identity in that relationship. The study sample comprised 5 385 kindergarten teachers from Guangdong province, China (females = 99.1%, 0-1 years of experience = 15.2%, 2-5 years of experience = 34.4%, 6-10 years of experience = 25.3%, 11-15 years of experience = 12.6%, >16 years of experience = 12.6%; mean years of experience = 5.75). The teachers completed the following measures: the Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS), Emotional Satisfaction Scale (ESS), Objective Career Success (OCS), and Professional Identity Scale (PIS). Regression and mediation analysis were utilised for the data analysis. Results indicate that objective career success predicts subjective well-being to be higher with higher levels of objective career success of male teachers. Professional identity plays a mediating role between objective career success and subjective well-being. It is also associated with increasing levels of subjective well-being, particularly among females and those with more experience. Our findings suggest a need to provide professional development space for kindergarten teachers, strengthening the links between their objective career success and work-life satisfaction.

P12 Assessing the clinical utility of antibiotics for urinary tract infections in India: findings from a questionnaire survey

Abstract Background We aimed to formulate a consensus for the therapeutic utilization of antibiotics based on contemporary evidence and the real-world experiences of the clinicians at the forefront of the care of patients with urinary tract infection (UTI). Methods We developed customized technological response system for mapping exercise and panel of eminent specialists was convened. Prior consent was obtained, and the weblink of the questionnaire was provided. Sub-expert nationwide panel (n=397), across India (PRISM Survey group), rated their level of agreement with 11 questions with each item on a five-point Likert scale and 5 objective response questions. The consensus was pre-defined if the weighted mean score for the Likert scale was &amp;gt;100. Data were statistically analysed by GraphPad software version 9.5.0. Results The mean years of experience were 9.2 years (SD ±10, 95% CI 8.2–10), and cumulative clinical experience was 3669 person-years. The predominant clinical practice setting of the respondents was a public hospital (58.6%). The highest agreement score in the decreasing rank order (of adjusted weighted mean score) for UTI were: antibiotic resistance is a major challenge (126.1), oral fosfomycin-based regimens are effective against MDR pathogens (123.4), is a good option for bacterial biofilm reduction (121.7), the potential to manage recurrent lower UTI (121.6), oral fosfomycin along with nitrofurantoin is been useful to manage MDR UTI (106.8), nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin are chosen as empirical treatment (103.7), fosfomycin has stood the test of time (120.2). Adjusted mean response scores (±SD, 95% CI) for consensus were: agree (73±9.4, 95% CI 66 to 79) followed by strongly agree (32±13, 95% CI 24 to 41), neither agree nor disagree (13±4.9, 95% CI 9.8 to 16), disagree (−6.5±4.7, 95% CI −9.7 to −3.4), strongly disagree (−0.86±0.9, 95% CI −1.5 to −0.26). Conclusions In the era of MDR UTI, time-tested oral fosfomycin and nitrofurantoin can improve management of UTI without increasing the complexity.

Performance Evaluation of Bowen Milk Collection Centre Iwo Osun State Nigeria

Milk collection centers (MCCs) were established to promote domestic milk production and lessen Nigeria’s reliance on the importation of milk and related dairy products. Restricted numbers of MCCs in Nigeria make milk supply difficult for the dairy farmers which are not located close to them. The study evaluated the performance of Bowen MCC. Two-stage sampling technique was used to select 60 dairy farmers for the study. Questionnaire and Key Informant Interview was used to collect data from respondents and data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Result shows majority of respondents were males (85.0%), married (98.3%) with mean age of 40±7.63 years and household size of 9±1.93 persons. All (100%) respondents engaged in dairy farming (100.0%) as primary occupation with mean monthly income of ₦35,782.18±9,036.04 ($80.83) with mean years of experience of 31.00±7.19 years. Use of archaic production practices ( = 2.00) and unimproved genetic composition of local breeds for milk production ( = 1.90) were the major constraints encountered by dairy farmers. Bowen MCC has adequate number of staff and well equipped with functional equipment but the major challenge encountered is insufficient milk supply by dairy farmers. The study therefore recommends that farmers should be trained on different aspects of improving cattle’s’ productivity.

Clinical practice for sarcopenia in Asia: Online survey by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia

ObjectiveThis study aimed to (1) investigate the clinical practice for the management of sarcopenia among healthcare professionals in Asia, (2) determine the characteristics of clinical care provided by geriatricians versus by other healthcare professionals, and (3) clarify the awareness of sarcopenia. MethodsFrom December 1 to 31, 2022, an online survey was completed by 1990 healthcare professionals in Asia. The survey comprises demographics and institutional characteristics, basic sarcopenia-related details, and sarcopenia-related assessment and treatment details. ResultsThe mean respondent age was 44.2 ± 10.7 years, 36.4% of the respondents were women, and the mean years of experience in clinical practice were 19.0 ± 10.6 years. The percentages of respondents who were aware of the term “sarcopenia”, its definition and the importance of its management were high, at 99.3%, 91.9%, and 97.2%, respectively. The percentages of respondents who had screened patients for, diagnosed patients with, and treated patients for sarcopenia were 42.4%, 42.9%, and 58.8%, respectively. Medical doctors had higher performance rates compared to allied health professionals (45.5% vs. 40.5% for screening, 56.8% vs. 34.5% for diagnosis, and 65.0% vs. 55.0% for treatment) (P < 0.001). Especially, among medical doctors, geriatricians had significantly higher rates compared to non-geriatricians (64.3% vs. 34.1% for screening; 76.7% vs. 44.8% for diagnosis; 82.7% vs. 54.4% for treatment, respectively) (P < 0.001). ConclusionAlthough the importance of the concept and management of sarcopenia is well recognized, there is a gap in its detection and management in clinical practice between medical doctors and allied health professionals, and also between geriatricians and non-geriatricians. Many geriatricians collaborate with other healthcare professionals to appropriately manage sarcopenia. In the future, educating all medical staff on the proper management of sarcopenia is necessary.

Ethical climate in healthcare: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Ethical climate refers to the shared perception of ethical norms and sets the scope for what is ethical and acceptable behaviour within teams. This paper sought to explore perceptions of ethical climate amongst healthcare workers as measured by the Ethical Climate Questionnaire (ECQ), the Hospital Ethical Climate Survey (HECS) and the Ethics Environment Questionnaire (EEQ). A systematic review and meta-analysis was utilised. PSYCINFO, CINAHL, WEB OF SCIENCE, MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched, and papers were included if they sampled healthcare workers and used the ECQ, HECS or EEQ. Ethical approval was not required. The search returned 1020 results. After screening, 61 papers were included (n = 43 HECS, n = 15 ECQ, n = 3 EEQ). The overall sample size was over 17,000. The pooled mean score for the HECS was 3.60. Mean scores of individual studies ranged from 2.97 to 4.5. For the HECS studies, meta-regression was carried out. No relationship was found between the country of the studies, the study setting (ICU v non-ICU settings) or the mean years of experience that the sample had. For the ECQ, sub-scales had mean scores ranging from 3.41 (instrumental) to 4.34 (law) and were all observed to have significant and substantial heterogeneity. Three studies utilised the EEQ so further analysis was not carried out. The above results provide insight into the variability of scores as measured by the HECS, ECQ and EEQ. To some extent, this variability is not surprising with studies carried out across 21 countries and in a range of healthcare systems. Results also suggest that it may be that more local and context specific factors are more important when it comes to predicting ethical climate.