National League Research Articles

Legend of leagues: heterogeneity in the revenue structure of European national leagues

PurposeThe environmental characteristics of international football can vary significantly from one country to another. As a result, the economic and market possibilities and the objectives of each national league are very heterogeneous. This article aims to examine the differences in revenue structures amongst European national football leagues (n = 50) and cluster them based on these structures. It also investigates which revenue structure would be more effective for similar leagues, considering the previously mentioned varying environmental characteristics of international football.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilises a theoretical framework of business modelling, applied in a unique way to league organisers of national championships. Data on sports and business aspects were collected from sources such as the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Financial Benchmarking Reports, transfermarkt.de and related sources for the period 2015 to 2018. K-means cluster analysis, using the Euclidean distance approach, was employed to develop clusters based on revenue sources over a four-year average.FindingsThe paper presents the characteristics and year-to-year changes of nine developed clusters. Throughout the analysis, variables such as average overpayment and inequality between player values amongst leagues were prioritised. The study's practical implications can assist league organisers in enhancing the competitiveness of their leagues, supported by short case studies that provide illustrative examples.Originality/valueThe novelty of the current article lies in introducing innovative variables such as the variance of player value whilst focussing on meso-level analysis, providing a fresh contribution to the existing literature in the field for understanding revenue structures and performance in European national football leagues.

Impact of Coaches’ Transformational Leadership on Soccer Players’ Satisfaction in Selected Ethiopian Super and National League Football Clubs

The primary goal of the current study was to determine how coaches’ transformational leadership philosophies affected player contentment on the selected Ethiopian Super League and National League football teams. A transformational leader encourages and inspires others to step outside of their comfort zones and find creative solutions to issues. A key factor in creating and sustaining player performance and athlete satisfaction is the coaching approach. The goal of the study was to ascertain how soccer players’ contentment with their particular football teams was impacted by coaches’ transformational leadership approaches. The study design was a correlational research design. The study subjects in the sample consisted of 227 soccer players. SPSS version 20.0 was used in this study for data entry, computation, and processing. The study results of independent t-tests and multiple linear regression models were revealed to be fit. Athlete satisfaction predicted by the regression model was significant and fit. The present study revealed that the national league’s mean score was lower than the super league’s mean in the independent t-test results. The study showed that the most crucial coach behavior to improve athletes’ satisfaction is transformational coaching leadership style. Because of this, the Ethiopian Football Federation and other regional football federations may consider how transformative leaders’ leadership philosophies affect athlete satisfaction.

Reconceptualising knowledge in the athlete-coach learning system: a mixed-method case study of harnessing bi-directional self-organising tendencies with a national wheelchair rugby league team.

Knowledge and knowledge transfer are often viewed in unitary and hierarchical terms, where a linear transaction exists between an individual possessing a body of knowledge and a person needing that knowledge. Although this traditional view of knowledge transfer is common within the sports domain, it is problematic because knowledge is treated as a self-contained entity. The overarching purpose of this study is to explore the ecological role of knowledge, underpinning performance preparation processes in an international coaching setting. Specifically, we investigated how bi-directional self-organising (coordination) tendencies (coach and athlete-led) can be exploited to facilitate the formation of attacking synergies within the team sport of wheelchair rugby league. A mixed-method case study approach was employed to collect data, involving semi-structured interviews, reflexive observations and field notes, and notational analysis. Results from the study described the transitional process of positioning an ecological view of knowledge transfer as a guiding principle to enhance athlete and practitioner collaboration. This reciprocal relationship provided documented opportunities to enhance on- and off-field team synergies. The pedagogical experiences we describe emerged throughout periods of uncertainty, requiring effortful interactions, forged on the continuous coupling of key agents (individuals), content, and context, enabling application, refinement, and opportunities for team synergies to evolve in performance preparation. Results suggested that the challenge of understanding and facilitating knowledge transfer could be embedded within the ecology of a complex adaptive system, sustained as a contextualised activity reciprocally constructed through on-going correspondence between athletes, scientists, practitioners, and the competitive performance context.

Health Consequences of Climate Change: Continuing Education Opportunities for Health Professionals in the United States.

Climate change is a looming public health challenge. The health consequences of climate change are increasingly recognized as contributing to negative health outcomes for individuals, families, communities, and populations. The education of health professionals in academic programs and continuing education in clinical practice settings is critical in today's world. The Association of American Medical Colleges and the National League for Nursing, among other organizations, have urged academic programs to include the impact of climate change on health in health professions education and have started to integrate it into curricula. However, health professionals educated over the past several decades have received little content related to the deleterious impact of climate change on health. Therefore, continuing education programs addressing the health consequences of climate change are being developed to fill the gap in health professions education globally. This review study explicated the available continuing education opportunities for public health professionals and health care providers related to the health consequences of climate change. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2023;54(12):561-566.].

Liberalism and illiberalism in Myanmar’s National League for Democracy

The National League for Democracy (NLD) was largely synonymous with Myanmar’s semi-democratic intermezzo in 2016–21. For 2 years after the military coup in 2021, it resumed the role of major opposition party performed from 1988 to 2015. Although it was dissolved by the military junta in 2023, it remains a dominant political force inside the country. This article examines the commitment of NLD leaders and voters to liberal agendas. It reviews existing literature, draws on our dataset of Facebook posts by NLD members of parliament, analyses our 2017 survey, and triangulates it with 2020 World Values Survey data. It argues that the NLD was a relatively liberal force in Myanmar’s democratisation in the 2010s, though its liberal commitments were coupled with rising illiberal values. It is thus possible that even if the NLD were reconstituted and re-elected under a future democratic settlement, that democracy would not be liberal.

Countermovement Jump Performance in Elite Senior Male Kabaddi Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the peak power and relative peak power output between raiders and defenders in professional kabaddi players using the counter movement jump test. Method: A total of 16 professional male kabaddi players, evenly split into 8 raiders, and 8 defenders with an average kabaddi experience of 6 years (aged 22.5 ± 3.1 years, height 175.1 ± 6.3cm and weight 78.7 ± 0.5kg) participated in this study. A counter movement jump test on a force platform was performed to determine their power output values along with their whole-body composition analysis. All players have played in national, international, or pro league competitions. During their 8-week pre-season camp in September–October 2022, these athletes trained and were tested at Inspire Institute of Sport in Bellary, India. Results: The results indicated that there is no significant difference in peak power output with respect to a Kabaddi player’s playing position or training age. But a significant positive correlation (p=0.039) was established between lean body mass and relative peak power output. Conclusion: The current study suggests that peak power production from the countermovement leap test may be a good way to measure explosive leg power in kabaddi athletes. Kabaddi raiders and defenders have similar vertical jump height, peak power, and relative peak power. Years of kabaddi experience did not affect countermovement jump test variables. According to the study, all kabaddi players have similar physiological demands.

The influence of heart failure high-fidelity simulation education based on NLN Jeffries simulation framework in the prelicensure nursing program: A quasi-experimental study

ObjectivesTo examine the influence of heart failure high-fidelity simulation education based on the National League for Nursing (NLN) Jeffries Simulation Framework in prelicensure nursing education. MethodsA heart failure high-fidelity simulation (HFHFS) education pilot project was carried out at Carrington College Sacramento. Twenty-three students participated in the study. This study used a quasi-experimental design. Students’ Self-Efficacy, Satisfaction, and Knowledge in Heart Failure Clinical Knowledge were measured pre- and post-HFHFS education. ResultsThe results of the high-fidelity simulation education for heart failure showed that students achieved a mean score of 45.39 (SD = 7.88) in self-efficacy, 18.70 (SD = 3.38) in satisfaction, and 64.09 (SD = 10.86) in knowledge after the intervention. The paired-sample t-test significantly improved between the pre- and post-intervention scores (P < 0.001). The students highly rated self-efficacy, student satisfaction, and knowledge because of the positive impact on the teaching effectiveness of simulation design (i.e., objectives, problem-solving, student support, fidelity, debriefing) activity that included the application of quality safety education for nurses (QSEN) three competencies safety, patient-centered care, and teamwork and collaboration during nursing care for patients with acute heart failure. The teaching effectiveness of the heart failure high-fidelity simulation education is closely correlated with student satisfaction, self-efficacy, and improvement of participant knowledge in clinical nursing skills performance and critical thinking. ConclusionA heart failure high-fidelity simulation education established upon the National League for Nursing (NLN) Jeffries framework enhanced student knowledge, satisfaction, self-efficacy, application of safety, patient-centered care, and teamwork and collaboration. Nurse educators should consider simulation planning to include the five simulation design characteristics, i.e., objectives, problem-solving, student support, fidelity, and debriefing, while integrating safety, patient-centered care, and teamwork and collaboration to bring about education effectiveness.

Satisfaction and self-confidence among nursing students with simulation learning during COVID-19

AimThis survey aimed to investigate nursing students’ satisfaction and self-confidence in simulation in education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with comparing these levels based on selected students’ characteristics.DesignA cross-sectional survey.MethodsThe survey was conducted at the faculty of nursing of a private university in Jordan. Students’ satisfaction and self-confidence levels in simulation learning were measured using the National League for Nursing (NLN) Student Satisfaction and Self-confidence in Learning Scales.ResultsA total of 138 undergraduate nursing students participated in the survey. Students’ satisfaction levels and self-confidence in simulation learning were lower (just above the scale’s midpoint) than scores reported in similar surveys. The lowest student ratings were reported as “the variety of learning activities that can be done using simulation” and “the self-confidence to develop the needed skills and knowledge to be used in real clinical settings”. The results also indicated that as students’ progress in the bachelor’s degree program, they develop higher levels of self-confidence in simulation-based learning.ConclusionsNursing students’ experience of simulation learning was observed to be negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. High-fidelity simulation, in particular, among other simulation modalities, can be more beneficial in similar situations. Education stakeholders are invited to invest in the resources of high-fidelity simulation to maximize its benefits and help in the recovery phase after the pandemic.

Examining the use of geriatric standardized patients with baccalaureate nursing students

ABSTRACT The need for clinical placements for undergraduate nursing programs heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic as nursing schools across the country faced restrictions with the high-risk geriatric client population. Nursing students experienced increased anxiety levels, decreased learning opportunities, and uncertainties about the decision to enter the workforce as healthcare professionals. In turn, this amplified the need for faculty support and feedback imperative for student success. One method for mitigating the gap between didactic content and clinical placement is using simulation-based learning experiences. The purpose of this observational study was to examine the impact of a newly developed home health geriatric simulation on student satisfaction and self-confidence in learning among 133 senior-level Baccalaureate nursing students from a large public university. Study measures included the National League of Nursing’s Self-Confidence in Learning Scale (SCLS) and Simulation Design Scale (SDS). The primary outcome was satisfaction and self-confidence in learning. Higher SDS component scores were significantly correlated with higher SCLS scores (all p = <.0001), indicating that high satisfaction among Baccalaureate nursing students in simulation design relates to increased satisfaction and self-confidence in learning. Study findings support using standardized geriatric simulation scenarios to prepare students to communicate and care for older adults.

An Innovative Strategy for Teaching Diagnostic Reasoning: Cough, Cough, Cough

Diagnostic reasoning is a complex cognitive process essential for nurse practitioner students to be competent before starting precepted clinical experiences. This article describes a formative simulation in which small groups of beginning-level nurse practitioner students and their faculty facilitators worked through the diagnostic reasoning process. Cough is the chief complaint for each of 3 encounters, but each standardized patient had different key findings with distinct diagnoses. Comments from 48 students and 8 faculty members supported educational best practices as delineated in the National League of Nursing/Jeffries Framework. The intraprofessional student learning across nurse practitioner specialties could be replicated in other institutions to develop student competencies.

The last quarter for sustainable environment in basketball: the carbon footprint of basketball teams in Türkiye and Lithuania

Today, the sports industry is one of the most important sources of concern due to its negative environmental effects. Especially due to the intense competition schedule, teams and fans have to travel constantly. In this context, the aim of this study, which aims to fill the gap in the literature, is to calculate the carbon footprints of the teams in the Turkish and Lithuanian national basketball leagues based on their travels in the 2021–22 season. The research was limited to Turkey and Basketball national basketball league teams. In the study, the travel distances of the teams in both countries during the 2021–22 basketball season were used as a data set. In the study, the values used in the carbon footprint calculation of 2022 by the United Kingdom Government GHG Conversion Factors for Company Reporting and accepted as the IPCC carbon dioxide emission factor were used. While the carbon footprint, which is obtained by multiplying the emission factor directly by the distance covered by the vehicle type, is presented in tons; The average value calculated for each person was calculated in kg. In the sports sector, basketball is one of the most important sources of transportation-related carbon footprint due to its being one of the team sports and its intense competition schedule. According to the results of this research conducted specifically for Turkey and Lithuania, the total carbon footprint calculated for both countries is 53,029 tons. To make an assessment for both countries, in order to reduce travel based on sports; Arranging league calendars to include less travel, dissemination of green and clean energy-using (electric) vehicles, raising the awareness of club managers, developing environmental assessment policies specific to basketball federations, and increasing cooperation through awareness and training activities seem feasible for sustainable environment and basketball goals.

Mock trial as a simulation strategy allowing undergraduate nursing students to experience evidence-based practice: A scoping-review.

The purpose of this scoping review was to determine the underlying design of simulations that help undergraduate nursing students acquire evidence-based practice (EBP) experiences. The JBI methodology was used for this review. The inclusion criteria were studies conducted in academic, clinical, or virtual settings that examined simulation programs designed to facilitate the acquisition of EBP by undergraduate nursing students. A comprehensive search was performed on Jan 3, 2022, using the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE; PubMed), the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), the Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), and the Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE). Grey literature was not included. Publication year was limited to 2020 and later. There was no language restriction. Data were extracted using a tool developed by the reviewers and based on the National League for Nursing Jeffries Simulation Theory. A total of 12,931 articles were found, and after duplicate articles and articles deemed ineligible based on the title and abstract (12,914 articles), 17 published papers were examined. The full texts of these studies were reviewed for eligibility, and one study was selected for the present scoping review. The selected study examined a mock trial designed to allow undergraduate nursing students to experience the ethical decision-making based on a diversity of evidence. The program reported in the study consisted of a prebriefing-simulation (mock)-debriefing structure with verified positive effects on EBP education. A mock trial is a useful educational strategy for allowing undergraduate nursing students to experience EBP, but a creative method should be found that can modify the mock trial for practical operation as the designing the program demands high levels of human and material resources. OSF Registries, https://osf.io/gdtyu, We updated OSF registry data for documenting important protocol amendments.

Epidemiology of Acute and Overuse Injuries in Underwater Rugby.

Underwater rugby (UWR) is a team sport. Athletes require a high degree of strength, endurance, speed, and coordination involving intense physical contact. Currently, a paucity of literature exists regarding injury occurrence in UWR. To examine the nature and prevalence of acute and overuse injuries in UWR. Descriptive epidemiology study. Between November 2020 and March 2021, a total of 720 German UWR athletes were invited to take an online survey developed by orthopaedic specialists with UWR athletes. Data were recorded regarding general and health-related information, training habits, acute injuries that necessitated an interruption in training and/or doctor consultation, as well as overuse injuries. Overuse injuries were evaluated using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Overuse Injury Questionnaire. Statistical analyses included t tests or rank sum tests depending on normality of distribution. A nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis 1-way analysis of variance on ranks was used for nonnormally distributed data among several groups. This study included 161 active athletes (mean ± SD, 36.1 ± 11.9 years old; 75.3% male) for analysis, of whom 90.1% were competing regularly. The performance-level distribution was as follows: first German national league (n = 73), second German national league (n = 46), state league (n = 17), district league (n = 1), and no league (n = 24). The mean ± SD sport-specific training workload was 5.6 ± 3.0 h/wk, including UWR training, additional swimming (n = 71; 44.1%), strength (n = 70; 43.5%), and/or endurance training (n = 102; 63.4%). Acute injuries were recorded in 78.9% of all athletes. The most typical locations for acute injuries were hand/finger (42.4%), head/face (concussion, ruptured eardrum; 18.1%), wrist (5.5%), or spine (5.0%). Overuse injuries were reported by 42.9% of the participants. The predominant locations for overuse injuries were hand/finger (18.8%), shoulder/clavicle (14.1%), spine and wrist (10.7% each), head/face (8.7%), and ankle joint and knee (6.7% each). In the current study, 3 of 4 athletes reported at least 1 acute injury, and 2 of 5 athletes reported at least 1 overuse injury. Leading injury regions were the hand/finger, head/ear, wrist, and spine.

Preparing for the Next Generation NCLEX Using a Virtual Simulation.

Virtual clinical simulation is a digital innovation that augments clinical reasoning and clinical judgment, narrowing the theory-practice gap, preparing new graduates for the Next Generation NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination), and mitigating the demand for clinical placement and clinical faculty. The purpose of this article is to describe an educational innovation employing a virtual clinical simulation using the tenets of Tanner's Clinical Judgment Model and a National League for Nursing Advancing Care Excellence for Seniors unfolding case. A virtual clinical simulation successfully served to replace direct care clinical for 86 undergraduate nursing students enrolled in a foundation nursing course, augmenting the students' ability to transfer and apply theoretical knowledge to clinical practice. This virtual clinical simulation served as a viable platform for teaching clinical reasoning and clinical judgment, mitigating the education-practice gap for new graduate registered nurses. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(7):485-489.].

Injuries and Overuse Syndromes in Rink Hockey Players.

Rink Hockey is a high-speed low-contact sport with a widely recognized injury potential. Played with a hard ball by players wearing little or no protective gear, the rates of concussions and head injuries are of high interest. In this study, we reviewed and investigated injuries sustained by 108 German National League rink hockey players. We conducted an epidemiological cross-sectional study to determine sport-specific injuries and injury patterns in female and male rink hockey players. Data were collected by a standardized questionnaire. A total of 108 players participated in the study. The combined rate of injuries were 9.4/1000 athlete exposures. There was no significant difference between injury rates during games and practice. A sexspecific difference was not detected. Head injuries were the most frequent type (20.8 % of all injuries). Concussions made up 7 % of all head injuries with a rate of 0.76/1000 athlete exposure. Ball contact was the cause for 31 % of injuries, while player contact generated 26.2 % of all injuries. High rates of ball-contact-related injuries resulted in time loss and medical consultations. Head injuries were frequent, however did not result in significant time loss as compared to other injuries. The use of protective gear should be recommended.

Investigation of The Hamstrıng/Quadriceps Ratio, Time to Peak Torque and Joint Angle at Peak Torque Characteristics of Female Soccer Players

It is thought that time to peak torque and joint angle at peak torque parameters provide important data for the functional evaluation of quadriceps and hamstring muscles. It is known that studies with these parameters are rare in the literature. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between hamstring/quadriceps (H/Q) ratio, time to peak torque and joint angle at peak torque parameters of female football players. The sample group of the study consisted of 20 female footballers performing in the national women's league (3rd Division). Measurements of the footballers’ knee joints, as 60°/sec. and 180°/sec. angular velocities were performed with the concentric/concentric protocol. The conformity of the data obtained from the footballers to the normal distribution was analized with the Shapiro-Wilk Test and it was determined that they showed a normal distribution. Relationships between parameters were analyzed with Pearson correlation coefficient. According to the results of the analysis, it was determined that there is a statistically significant relationship between the non-dominant 180°/sec H/Q ratio and the time to peak torque of the flexor muscle at 180º/sec angular velocity, and between the dominant 180°/sec H/Q ratio and the joint angle at peak torque 180°/sec flexion. (p0.05). As a result, it can be said that the H/Q ratios of female football players are not related to functional strength parameters (time to peak torque and joint angle at peak torque) and functional performance should be evaluated with different approaches.

Players’, Head Coaches', And Medical Personnels' Knowledge, Understandings and Perceptions of Injuries and Injury Prevention in Elite-Level Women’s Football in Ireland

BackgroundTo manage injuries effectively, players, head coaches, and medical personnel need to have excellent knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours in relation to the identification of risk factors for injuries, the implementation of injury prevention initiatives, as well as the implementation of effective injury management strategies. Understanding the injury context, whereby specific personal, environmental, and societal factors can influence the implementation of injury prevention initiatives and injury management strategies is critical to player welfare. To date, no qualitative research investigating the context of injuries, has been undertaken in elite-level women’s football. The aim of our study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours of players, head coaches, and medical personnel in the Irish Women’s National League (WNL) to injury prevention and injury management.MethodsWe used qualitative research methods to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours of players, head coaches, and medical personnel in the Irish WNL to injury prevention and injury management. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 17 players, 8 medical personnel, and 7 head coaches in the Irish WNL. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. Our study is located within an interpretivist, constructivist research paradigm.ResultsThe participants had incomplete knowledge of common injuries in elite-level football, and many held beliefs about risk factors for injuries, such as menstrual cycle stage, which lacked evidence to support them. Jumping and landing exercises were commonly used to reduce the risk of injuries but evidence-based injury prevention exercises and programmes such as the Nordic hamstring curl, Copenhagen adduction exercise, and the FIFA 11+ were rarely mentioned. Overall, there was dissatisfaction amongst players with their medical care and strength and conditioning (S & C) support, with resultant inadequate communication between players, head coaches, and medical personnel.ConclusionPoor quality and availability of medical care and S & C support were considered to be a major obstacle in the effective implementation of injury risk reduction strategies and successful return-to-sport practices. More original research is required in elite-level women’s football to explore injury risk factors, injury prevention initiatives, and contextual return-to-sport strategies, so that players, head coaches, and medical personnel can use evidence that is both up-to-date and specific to their environment.

The effects of rational emotive behavior therapy and motivational interviewing on emotions, automatic thoughts, and perceived performance of elite female volleyball players

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to examine the effect of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy intervention alone (REBT-A) or with motivational interviewing (REBT + MI) on the emotions, automatic thoughts, and perceived performance of elite female volleyball players. Designand method: Single-case, staggered multiple-baseline AB and ABC designs were adapted in the study. Five female volleyball players participated in the study, of which three players participated in the REBT-A and two players participated in the REBT + MI. The athletes were competing in the national volleyball league (Mage = 28, SD = 5.52). All participants were elite athletes with at least ten years of sports experience. Three scores (T1, T2, T3) were calculated for the athletes' perceived performance, emotion, and automatic thoughts. T1 was the baseline score calculated before the sessions. T2 was calculated after the first two sessions (the first three sessions for REBT + MI) and T3 was calculated after the last three sessions. In the data analysis, percentage changes, effect size, and visual analyzes were used in the T1, T2, and T3 scores. ResultsREBT-A and REBT + MI interventions increased perceived performance, positive emotions, and positive automatic thoughts, and decreased negative emotions and negative automatic thoughts. REBT + MI was more advantageous than REBT-A in increasing positive emotion, positive automatic thought, and perceived performance. ConclusionsAs a result, REBT alone or with motivational interviewing has a positive effect on perceived performance, emotions, and automatic thoughts, but REBT + MI has greater potential to increase positive constructs.

Effects of the Virtual Simulation Prebriefing-Debriefing Educational Strategy on Nursing Students’ Self-Efficacy and Virtual Simulation Performance: A Quasi-Experimental Study

BackgroundThrough the use of virtual simulations nursing students are exposed to a variety of clinical scenarios that may potentially improve their learning of competencies, increase their self-efficacy (confidence), and enhance their future clinical performance. MethodsGuided by the National League for Nursing Jeffries Simulation Theory, Bandura's self-efficacy theory, and the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best PracticeTM, this quasi-experimental, two-group, pretest/post-test educational intervention study examined the effects of the synchronous Virtual Simulation Prebriefing-Debriefing strategy on Associate Degree Nursing students’ self-efficacy perceptions and virtual simulation performance scores in the care of patients experiencing a myocardial infarction. ResultsStudy results revealed statistically significant findings concerning the effectiveness of the Virtual Simulation Prebriefing-Debriefing strategy on students’ self-efficacy perceptions (in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains) and virtual simulation performance scores. Results also support that there is a small positive correlation between students' self-efficacy perceptions and virtual simulation performance scores. This study also provided evidence that the study's educational strategy caused positive changes in students’ self-efficacy perceptions and virtual simulation performance scores regardless of students’ age, previous experience with video or computer gaming, or previous healthcare work experience. ConclusionFindings suggest that a high-quality virtual simulation experience that integrates the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best PracticeTM, including structured prebriefing and debriefing strategies, can positively influence students’ self-efficacy perceptions and virtual simulation performance scores.

Epidemiology of injuries and illnesses in elite wheelchair basketball players over a whole season – a prospective cohort study

BackgroundWheelchair basketball is an adaptation of pedestrian basketball and one of the most popular Paralympic sports worldwide. The epidemiology of health problems in wheelchair basketball has been prospectively studied only during the Paralympic Games, the 2018 World Championships, the 2021 South America Wheelchair Basketball Championship, and one season of two American intercollegiate wheelchair basketball teams. The objective of the study was to prospectively monitor and analyze the prevalence, incidence, burden, and characteristics of injuries and illnesses in a wheelchair basketball league during an entire season for the first time.MethodsAll players of the highest German wheelchair basketball league (Bundesliga) were invited to participate in the study. Included players completed the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Questionnaire once a week during the entire season 2020/21 to report health problems. Exposure was captured by self-reported training time and officially-recorded competition time.ResultsSixty of 117 players (51%, 47 male, 13 female) of the national league participated with an average response of 93%. Seventy health problems (5.5/1000 exposure hours [95% CI: 4.9–6.1]) were reported, including 54 injuries and 16 illnesses. Prevalence of health problems was 60% (95% CI: 48–72). Most injuries affected the shoulder (32% of all injuries), cervical spine/neck (17%), and hand (13%). More overuse injuries (2.9/1000 exposure hours [95% CI: 2.5–3.3]) than acute injuries (1.3/1000 exposure hours [95% CI: 1.0-1.6]) occurred. Of all health problems, 53% were associated with time-loss. The incidences of all health problems, illnesses, injuries, and overuse injuries were higher in women than in men.ConclusionsCharacteristics and frequency of injuries and illnesses during wheelchair basketball season differed from those during major wheelchair basketball tournaments. The high proportion of overuse injuries and the higher injury rates in women should be regarded in the development of individualized prevention measures. Since results from previous studies during major tournaments are only partially comparable to wheelchair basketball league play, further studies should follow.