Need For More Training Research Articles

Awareness of Animal Welfare and the Law among Undergraduate Students in a Brazilian Medical School

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate medical and biomedical students’ knowledge about legislation related to the use of animals in research (Arouca’s Law), at the Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil. We received 62 responses to our online questionnaire of which 44 were considered valid. Only 25.3% of the students were aware of Arouca’s Law and 15% of them had read it. The majority of the participants (54.5%) were not aware of the penalties established by this legislation and had not attended classes regarding animal bioethics (70.5%). Those who had attended courses about animal experimentation were less likely to begin their experiments without approval (p=0.03) and more likely not to use more animals than the number approved by the ethics committee (p=0.05). Overall, the results showed a lack of knowledge among students about animal bioethics legislation, and a failure on the part of the students’ advisors to provide this information. The results highlight the need for more training on animal bioethics, better monitoring of compliance with the legislation and for courses on the subject for both students and advisors.

Perceptions of police training needs in cyber-crime

A common observation in the literature on cyber-crime policing is the need for more training. However, there is little detail of who within the police organisation requires training and what type of training may be needed. Based on survey and interview data from three specialist cyber-crime units in Australia, this article identifies that ‘lack of training’ is likely to have distinct meanings for different groups within the police: (a) front-line officers, (b) higher management, (c) generalist investigators, and (d) specialist investigators and civilians in cyber-crime units. Each of these groups is likely to face unique training needs that undermines the overall effectiveness of police organisations to respond to cyber-crime. The article explores the perceived training requirements across each of these groups and some potential ways in which they can be addressed in an effort to stimulate further research in this area focusing on the differentiated internal needs of police organisations.

Telemedicine use among neurologists before and during COVID-19 pandemic.

After the public health emergency due to COVID-19 was declared in Brazil, the federal government temporarily regulated and authorized the use of telemedicine services for patient consultation, monitoring, and diagnosis. For more than a decade, neurologists have recognized the benefits of telemedicine in the acute management of stroke patients. However, as the use of telemedicine was restricted until the COVID-19 pandemic, the view of Brazilian neurologists about telemedicine is unknown. All neurologists registered at the Brazilian Academy of Neurology were invited by e-mail to participate in a survey about personal perceptions on telemedicine use. One hundred sixty-two neurologists from all regions of Brazil answered the online questionnaire. The survey showed that 18.5% of participants worked with telemedicine before the pandemic, while 63.6% reported working with telemedicine during the pandemic. The main telemedicine modalities used during the pandemic were teleorientation and teleconsultation. According to our data, the COVID-19 pandemic deeply influenced the behavior of Brazilian neurologists, who developed a more favorable view about telemedicine and actively searched for information about telemedicine. As there is a need for more training in this area in Brazil, universities and medical societies must strive to improve telemedicine education. Expanding the use of high-quality teleneurology can contribute to a better care for patients with neurological diseases in Brazil.

School Psychologists’ Assessment Practices for Students with Co-Occurring Anxiety and Autism Spectrum Disorder

Anxiety and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) commonly co-occur, but school-based assessment practices surrounding identification of co-occurring presentations are not well understood. This study examined school psychologists’ assessment practices for anxiety in students with ASD, perceptions of their role in the assessment process, and perceived training needs. Participants were a national sample of 177 practicing school psychologists who completed a mail-based questionnaire developed for the study. Most participants agreed that assessment for symptoms of anxiety in students with ASD was part of their role. Assessment practices were similar across school psychologists with varying levels of experience and between doctoral and non-doctoral school psychologists. Common assessment practices were identified, and most participants indicated a need for more training. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Exploring the knowledge of community-based nurses in supporting parents of preterm babies at home: A survey-based study.

AimThis study aimed to investigate the confidence levels, knowledge base and learning needs of community‐based nurses relating to the care of preterm babies and parents, to explore what education is required and in what format.DesignAn online survey methodology was used.MethodsA 32‐item questionnaire was distributed via social media platforms to community‐based nurses in Australia.ResultsDescriptive analysis was undertaken relating to knowledge base, confidence levels, previous training, learning and resource needs and barriers to education. It was deemed vital to expand confidence and knowledge in this area. Gaps in learning resources were identified and a need for more training in topics such as developmental outcomes, feeding, expected milestones, weight gain, growth trajectories and supporting parents. Online resources were the preferred format to teach key knowledge to community‐based health professionals, tailored to the specific features of preterm babies and support needs of parents.

Barriers to responding to reproductive coercion and abuse among women presenting to Australian primary care

BackgroundReproductive coercion and abuse is defined as any behaviour that seeks to control a woman’s reproductive autonomy. In Australia, women often access reproductive health care through a primary care clinician, however, little is known about clinicians’ experiences responding to reproductive coercion and abuse. This study aims to address this gap by exploring the barriers to responding to reproductive coercion and abuse in Australian primary care.MethodsIn this qualitative study, twenty-four primary care clinicians from diverse clinical settings in primary care across Australia were recruited to participate in a semi-structured interview. Data were analysed thematically.ResultsThrough analysis, three themes were developed: It’s not even in the frame; which centred around clinicians lack of awareness around the issue. There’s not much we can do, where clinicians described a lack of confidence in responding correctly as well as a lack of services to refer on to. Lastly There’s no one to help us, explaining the disconnect between referral services and primary care as well as the impacts of lack of abortion on women experiencing reproductive coercion and abuse.ConclusionsClinicians expressed similar experiences of barriers to respond to reproductive coercion and abuse. Many clinicians felt ill-equipped to identify and respond to reproductive coercion and abuse. Some clinicians hadn’t received any formal training, others were trained but had nowhere to refer women. Further complicating responses was a lack of support from referral services. This study highlights the need for more training and a streamlined referral pathways for women who experience reproductive coercion and abuse, as well as better access to reproductive health services in rural areas.

Ready for SDM: evaluating a train-the-trainer program to facilitate implementation of SDM training in Norway

BackgroundHealthcare providers need training to implement shared decision making (SDM). In Norway, we developed “Ready for SDM”, a comprehensive SDM curriculum tailored to various healthcare providers, settings, and competence levels, including a course targeting interprofessional healthcare teams. The overall aim was to evaluate a train-the-trainer (TTT) program for healthcare providers wanting to offer this course within their hospital trust.MethodsOur observational descriptive design was informed by Kirkpatrick´s Model of Educational Outcomes. The South-Eastern Regional Health Authority invited healthcare providers from all health trusts in its jurisdiction to attend. The TTT consisted of a one-day basic course with lectures on SDM, exercises and group reflections followed by a two-day advanced course including an SDM observer training. Immediately after each of the two courses, reaction and learning (Kirkpatrick levels 1 and 2) were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. After the advanced course, observer skills were operationalized as accuracy of the participants’ assessment of a consultation compared to an expert assessment. Within three months post-training, we measured number of trainings conducted and number of healthcare providers trained (Kirkpatrick level 3) using an online survey. Qualitative and quantitative descriptive analysis were performed.ResultsTwenty-one out of 24 (basic) and 19 out of 22 (advanced) healthcare providers in 9 health trusts consented to participate. The basic course was evaluated as highly acceptable, the advanced course as complex and challenging. Participants identified a need for more training in pedagogical skills and support for planning implementation of SDM-training. Participants achieved high knowledge scores and were positive about being an SDM trainer. Observer skills regarding patient involvement in decision-making were excellent (mean of weighted t = .80). After three months, 67% of TTT participants had conducted more than two trainings each and trained a total of 458 healthcare providers.ConclusionFindings suggest that the TTT is a feasible approach for supporting large-scale training in SDM. Our study informed us about how to improve the advanced course. Further research shall investigate the efficacy of the training in the context of a comprehensive multifaceted strategy for implementing SDM in clinical practice.Trial registration: Retrospectively registered at ISRCTN (99432465) March 25, 2020.

Teacher’s Involvement Level in Co-Curricular Activities in the Schools of Thimphu

This research primarily aims to examine teacher’s involvement level in co-curricular activities as co-curricular activities are considered one of the core components of the Bhutanese education system, where co-curricular activities promote enthusiasm, vitality, positive thinking, and team spirit which in turn, contribute to personality development [1]. Understanding teacher’s perspective and their work situation would strengthen the co-curricular activities in schools through proper directions and supports. Therefore, this research work was intended to see teacher’s involvement, interest, and training aspects in co-curricular activities. The report on “teacher’s involvement in co-curricular activities in the schools of Thimphu” consists of six chapters. Chapter1 states the importance of co-curricular activities in the education system and the rationale for conducting this study. It also highlights the importance of teachers in the education system.
 Chapter 2 talks about the background information on the research work through intensive literature review focusing on three objectives of the research. A similar kind of study, which was conducted in different countries is also reviewed and it was found that it has a strong correlation to our setting of the education system. Adequate evidence was brought into the discussion from various sources although such kinds of study weren’t conducted in Bhutan before. Through rigorous literature review, it was able to structure the research question and theoretical framework for this study.
 Chapter 3 discusses the research design, methodology, and analysis. For this study, a descriptive method was undertaken with a quantitative approach using survey questionnaires. The questionnaire was pre-tested and a reliability test for internal consistency was also carried out. The survey questionnaire was administered to about 120 teachers from eight different schools of Thimphu. Data analysis was carried out mostly through SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) and a Microsoft Excel sheet was also used for preparing tables and graphs for interpretation.
 Chapter 4 provides the main findings of the study. The summaries of the findings from this study are: Firstly, the demographic detail shows that 70.8% female and 29.2% male participated in this research and from which 56.7% of the teachers were from the age group of 31-40. The majority of respondents were B.Ed teachers and representation of school level was maintained somewhat equal. Secondly, the involvement in co-curricular activities was found very impressive as the mean score was recorded at 4.1. It also showed that 90.9% of teachers are very familiar with co-curricular activities in school.
 Thirdly it was also found that the teachers do adequate planning and devote their time to co-curricular programs. However, it was found that they desire motivation and reward systems to be in place as they were not motivated by the current situation. Fourthly the findings showed that the teachers are in dire need of more training and workshops to upgrade their knowledge and skills in co-curricular activities. Around 86.6% stated that they need specialized tutors to to carry out co-curricular activities in schools.
 Chapter 5 provides some practical recommendations based on the findings. The recommendations are particularly made on the areas like; empowerment in carrying out the co-curricular activities, motivation & reward system, provide enough training & workshops , create suitable timing for co-curricular activities and ministry to carry out study on the relevancy of co-curricular activities in schools.
 Chapter 6 discusses the limitations, significance & scope of the study, and ethical considerations. Finally, chapter 7 provides the conclusion.

Knowledge and compliance with Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures among health workers in regional referral hospitals in northern Uganda: a cross-sectional online survey

Background: Infection prevention and control (IPC) has increasingly been underscored as a key tool for limiting the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and safeguarding health workers from infections during their work. Knowledge and compliance with IPC measures is therefore essential in protecting health workers. However, this has not been established among health workers in northern Uganda in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge and compliance with Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures among health workers in regional referral hospitals in northern Uganda. Methods: An online cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among health workers in regional referral hospitals within northern Uganda. A structured questionnaire was distributed to health workers via WhatsApp messenger. Sufficient knowledge was considered at a correct response score of ≥80%, while adequate compliance was rated ≥75% of the maximum score. Data were analyzed using SPSS v21. Results: Of the 213 health workers approached, 75 (35%) participated in the study. The majority were males, 39(52%) and the mean age was 36.92 years. Of the 75 participants, 52(69%) had sufficient knowledge of Covid-19 IPC while 51(68%) had adequate compliance with Covid-19 IPC. Adequate compliance was significantly associated with training in Covid-19 IPC (OR, 2.86; 95% CI, (1.04-7.88); p=0.039), access to Covid-19 IPC materials at workstations (OR, 2.90; 95% CI, (1.06 - 8.09); p=0.036), and having strong institutional support (OR, 3.08; 95% CI, (1.08 – 8.74); p=0.031). However, there was no significant relationship between knowledge and compliance with IPC (p=0.07). The socio-demographic characteristics of health workershad no statistically significant relationship with Covid-19 IPC knowledge or compliance. Conclusion: Our results show fairly good knowledge and compliance with Covid-19 IPC among health workers in northern Uganda. There is need for more training and provision of guidelines to promote compliance with Covid-19 IPC.

Barriers and opportunities to using health information in policy implementation: The case of adolescent and youth friendly health services in the Western Cape.

BackgroundThe production, use and exchange of health information is an essential part of the health services, as it is used to inform daily decision-making and to develop new policies, guidelines and programmes. However, there is little insight into how health care workers (HCWs) get access to and use health information when implementing new health programmes.AimThis study explored the multifaceted role of health information within policy implementation processes and aimed to understand the complexities experienced by HCWs who need to develop adolescent health profiles (AHPs), a criterion of implementing a larger Adolescent and Youth Friendly Services Programme (AYFSP).SettingThis case study was undertaken in Gugulethu, a peri-urban, low-income neighbourhood in Cape Town, South Africa.MethodsData were collected through ethnographic qualitative methods, including participant observation, interviews and workshops, and 15 participants were enrolled for this purpose.ResultsFindings showed that HCWs experienced different barriers when accessing information to develop the AHPs, including a lack of access to databases, a lack of support and inadequate guidelines. Nevertheless, HCWs were resourceful in using informal information and building strategic relationships to navigate and gain access to the necessary data to develop AHPs.ConclusionThis case study provided insights into the practical difficulties and innovative strategies which arise when HCWs attempt to access and use health information within a real-life health programme. Findings highlighted the need for more training, support and guidance for HCWs to improve the meaningful use of health information during policy implementation processes and to strengthen health services in South African primary care clinics.

Knowledge and compliance with Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures among health workers in regional referral hospitals in northern Uganda: a cross-sectional online survey

Background: Infection prevention and control (IPC) has increasingly been underscored as a key tool for limiting the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and safeguarding health workers from infections during their work. Knowledge and compliance with IPC measures is therefore essential in protecting health workers. However, this has not been established among health workers in northern Uganda in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge and compliance with Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures among health workers in regional referral hospitals in northern Uganda. Methods: An online cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 75 health workers in regional referral hospitals within northern Uganda. A structured questionnaire was distributed to health workers via WhatsApp messenger. Sufficient knowledge was considered at a correct response score of ≥80%, while adequate compliance was rated ≥75% of the maximum score. Data were analyzed using SPSS v21. Results: The majority of the health workers had sufficient knowledge (69%) and adequate compliance (68%) with Covid-19 IPC. Adequate compliance was significantly associated with training in Covid-19 IPC (p=0.039), access to Covid-19 IPC at workstations (p=0.036), and having strong institutional support (p=0.031). However, there was no significant relationship between knowledge and compliance with IPC (p=0.07). The socio-demographic characteristics of health workers, including age, sex, education level, occupation, working hours and work experience, had no statistically significant relationship with Covid-19 IPC knowledge or compliance. Conclusion: Our results show fairly good knowledge and compliance with Covid-19 IPC among health workers in northern Uganda. There is need for more training and provision of guidelines to promote compliance with Covid-19 IPC.

Charting a Course to Rebuild and Strengthen the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP): Findings and Recommendations from the Center for Migration Studies Refugee Resettlement Survey: 2020

Charting a Course to Rebuild and Strengthen the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP): Findings and Recommendations from the Center for Migration Studies Refugee Resettlement Survey: 2020

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Competencies of Academic Staff of Nursing Faculties Regarding their Use of Online Applications in Teaching / Learning Tasks

As a response to COVID-19 pandemic, a growing number of universities across the world have either postponed or canceled all its activities and use distance learning to mitigate loss of learning. The aim of the study was to determine the effect ofCOVID-19 pandemic on the competencies of academic staff of nursing faculties regarding the use of online applications in teaching and learning tasks. Study design: Web-based descriptive study design. Settings: Six faculties of nursing affiliated to six Egyptian governmental Universities were chosen randomly. Subjects: A convenience sample of 457 nursing academic staff working at the previous mentioned settings. Study tool: A structured web-based questionnaire schedule that consisted of three parts. part I: Nursing academic staff‟ personal data. Part II: Past experience of academic staff regarding their use of online applications for teaching and learning. Part III: Competencies of the academic nursing staff regarding their use of online applications for teaching and learning. Results: before COVID-19 pandemic, only less than two fifths of the studied subjects used the online applications for teaching/learning process. After the pandemic, more than half of them attended committees, workshops or councils via online applications. More than half of the studied staff had low level of competencies in using online applications, and all staff reported their need for more training. Conclusion &recommendations: the highest percentage of academic nursing staff had low competency in dealing with online applications for teaching or learning. So, it was recommended that, universities must ensure supporting instructors in transitioning to online teaching via professional development or training.

A Cross-Sectional Survey on Occupational Blood and Body Fluid Exposure Risk in a Tertiary Hospital in East Malaysia.

Background and AimHealthcare workers (HCWs) routinely experience occupational blood and body fluid exposure (OBBE), including percutaneous injury and splash exposure to non-intact skin. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of OBBE and identify associated risk factors.MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed on 334 HCWs at 9 workstations. Data were collected with a self-administered questionnaire that consisted of four parts: sociodemographic variables, work-related information, knowledge about needle stick and sharps injury and splash exposure, and information regarding previous OBBE incidents. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 22.0 software.FindingsThe prevalence of OBBE was 25.1% (95% confidence interval: 20.6–30.2), mostly due to percutaneous injuries, which were not reported to authorities. The highest proportions were among nurses and those working in the medical ward. Needle recapping practices were associated with almost a four-times higher risk of OBBE compared to no-recapping practices. HCWs who did not have any infection prevention training had a three-times higher risk of OBBE.ConclusionFactors associated with OBBE are unsafe work practices, inadequate infection prevention training, and lack of knowledge regarding blood-borne infection. There is a need for more training and increased awareness about the risks of OBBE to reduce unsafe practices.

Exploring factors that influence the practice of Open Science by early career health researchers: a mixed methods study.

Background: There is a growing global movement towards open science and ensuring that health research is more transparent. It is vital that the researchers are adequately prepared for this research environment from early in their careers. However, limited research has been conducted on the barriers and enablers to practicing open science for early career researchers. This study aimed to explore the views, experiences and factors influencing open science practices amongst ECRs working in health research. Methods: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of ECRs working in health research. Participants also completed surveys regarding the factors influencing open science practices. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data and descriptive statistical analyses were used to analyse survey data. Results: 14 ECRs participated. Two main themes were identified from interview data; Valuing Open Science and Creating a Culture for Open Science. Within 'Valuing Open Science', participants spoke about the conceptualisation of open science to be open across the entire research cycle, and important for producing better and more impactful research for patients and the public. Within 'Creating a Culture of Open Science' participants spoke about a number of factors influencing their practice of open science. These included cultural and academic pressures, the positives and negatives of increased accountability and transparency, and the need for more training and supporting resources to facilitate open science practices. Conclusion: ECRs see the importance of open science for beneficially impacting patient and public health but many feel that they are not fully supported to practice open science. Resources and supports including education and training are needed, as are better incentives for open science activities. Crucially, tangible engagement from institutions, funders and researchers is needed to facilitate the development of an open science culture.

Exploring factors that influence the practice of Open Science by early career health researchers: a mixed methods study

Background: There is a growing global movement towards open science and ensuring that health research is more transparent. It is vital that the researchers are adequately prepared for this research environment from early in their careers. However, limited research has been conducted on the barriers and enablers to practicing open science for early career researchers. This study aimed to explore the views, experiences and factors influencing open science practices amongst ECRs working in health research. Methods: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of ECRs working in health research. Participants also completed surveys regarding the factors influencing open science practices. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data and descriptive statistical analyses were used to analyse survey data. Results: 14 ECRs participated. Two main themes were identified from interview data; Valuing Open Science and Creating a Culture for Open Science. Within ‘Valuing Open Science’, participants spoke about the conceptualisation of open science to be open across the entire research cycle, and important for producing better and more impactful research for patients and the public. Within ‘Creating a Culture of Open Science’ participants spoke about a number of factors influencing their practice of open science. These included cultural and academic pressures, the positives and negatives of increased accountability and transparency, and the need for more training and supporting resources to facilitate open science practices. Conclusion: ECRs see the importance of open science for beneficially impacting patient and public health but many feel that they are not fully supported to practice open science. Resources and supports including education and training are needed, as are better incentives for open science activities. Crucially, tangible engagement from institutions, funders and researchers is needed to facilitate the development of an open science culture.

ACOUSTIC ANALYSIS OF THE LENGTH OF /ʃ/ AND /Ʒ/ IN ENGLISH AFFRICATES

To participate in the ongoing debate of whether affricates are single phonemes or a combination of two distinct phonemes, this paper reports the results of an acoustic study of affricates. One of the arguments that supports one phoneme analysis is based on the assumption that the length of /ʃ/ and /Ʒ/ as single phonemes tends to be shorter when they are involved within the affricates /ʃ/ and /Ʒ/ respectively. However, this assumption has not been acoustically investigated. Thus, this paper measures the duration of /ʃ/ and /Ʒ/: first when they are alone, and second when they are involved in affricates to identify any length variation between the two cases. The study is based on acoustic and statistical analyses of the recordings of Iraqi, British and American speakers of English, who were asked to pronounce words that have the two fricatives /ʃ/ and /Ʒ/ alone and in affricates as well. The results of paired samples t-tests showed a significant difference in the length of /ʃ/ and /Ʒ/ as single phonemes and their length when involved within affricates in the pronunciation of Iraqi, British and American speakers both on the group and the overall levels. These results support the one phoneme analysis of affricates. Moreover, the results indicated that Arab learners and Iraqis in particular count heavily on temporal cues rather than spectral cues in perceiving English sounds. This shows the need for more training on the part of learners and teachers, and more attention on the part of English textbook designers.

Veterinary technology graduates’ perceptions of their education and subsequent employment experiences

ABSTRACT Aims To describe the current employment status of Bachelor of Veterinary Technology (BVetTech) graduates in New Zealand, to assess how well they felt that their degree programme had prepared them for practice, and to explore their experiences in their current job roles. Methods All 195 individuals who completed the BVetTech degree at Massey University between 2011 and 2018 were invited to participate in a cross-sectional survey regarding their education and employment experiences. Descriptive statistics were provided for all quantitative study variables and thematic analysis was performed on the free-text survey comments. Results The survey was completed by 125/195 (64.1%) BVetTech graduates. Of these, 96/125 (76.8%) were engaged in full-time or part-time veterinary work. The most common work environments were small animal practice (55/125; 44.0%) and mixed animal practice (19/125; 15.2%). The median reported annual salary was NZ$42,640 (mean $45,817; min $34,515; max $80,000) while the median reported hourly wage was NZ$20.00 (mean $21.01; min $17.70; max $27.00). Most respondents generally agreed with statements that their degree had prepared them well for different aspects of their subsequent work as veterinary technologists with “understanding the scientific rationale behind clinical decisions in practice” and “gaining hands-on practical experience that directly linked with their classroom learning” highlighted as being the best aspects of their education. However, respondents expressed the need for more training in client interactions and veterinary business management. Common themes that emerged when respondents were asked to describe the best things about their work were “forming relationships with animals, clients, and co-workers,” “making a meaningful difference through their work,” and “having opportunities to use and develop their skills” while the worst things about their job were “underutilisation of their skills,” “poor pay in relation to their education and skill,” and “compassion fatigue arising from dealing with euthanasia and difficult clients.” Another common theme across free-text questions was the lack of employer awareness about the capabilities of a veterinary technologist. Conclusions and clinical relevance Recent BVetTech graduates were generally satisfied with their educational experience, but perceived that employers underestimated the value of their training and consequently underutilised their skills. This highlights the need for additional research to better estimate the value of veterinary technologists to the New Zealand animal health industries as well as additional extension efforts to increase awareness amongst employers about the scope of responsibilities that veterinary technologists are legally able to perform in practice.

Assessing Cultural, Linguistic, and Indigenous Competencies: The Case of Early Childhood Care and Development Teachers in the Philippines

As a country with highly diverse local languages, cultures and indigenous groups, the Philippines’ Early Childhood Care and Development Council (ECCD) developed a manual for teachers that prescribes specific cultural, linguistic and indigenous competency standards. To determine the ECCD teachers’ levels in these competencies, this study utilizes self-assessment and supervisors’ assessment surveys. With the involvement of 274 teachers (locally known either as Child Development Workers or Teachers) in 12 areas all over the country, we reveal that their levels range from beginner to performer, with no skilled ratings. We conclude that although teachers are aware of the children’s cultural differences and respect their languages, and they somewhat provide a culturally-supportive environment, there seems to be a need for more training on designing an inclusive curriculum as evidenced by low ratings in planning and implementation. To improve the levels of competencies in the future, we recommend interventions such as the development of policies and frameworks on integration of indigenous cultures in early childhood education, training and revisiting of qualification standards in hiring, and the integration of professional learning communities with the Philippine commissions handling arts, language, and indigenous cultures.

Are local offices of emergency management prepared for people with disabilities? Results from the FEMA Region 9 Survey.

To assess disaster planning of local Offices of Emergency Management (OEM) with respect to people with disabilities (PWD). A cross-sectional study of local OEM from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 9 (N = 61) was conducted using an internet-based survey. The primary outcome was the adoption of emergency management recommendations by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and FEMA in applying Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). OEM implementation of ADA requirements was generally suboptimal. While 63 percent reported that plans addressed the needs of PWD, only 41 percent reported detailed operating procedures for PWD. Training of staff to ensure that they were knowledgeable on the ADA requirements for inclusivity was rarely conducted. While accessible shelters and transportation were often identified, accessible communication strategies, including emergency notifications, were often lacking; only 28 percent of OEMs reported availability of sign language interpreters at shelters. Shelters often allowed service animal access (62 percent), but fewer allowed access to personal assistants (39 percent). Engagement of the disability community, from plan development to community drills, was uncommon. While more than half (59 percent) of OEM felt clear about their responsibilities in providing equal access to PWD, only 23 percent reported having qualified staff and other resources necessary in order to meet those responsibilities. Participants cited the need for more training on the ADA requirements in order to better meet the needs of PWD. Strategies for improvement to assure inclusiveness of PWD in all phases of emergency management are needed.