Number Of Short Courses Research Articles

The determinants of digital competencies in accounting: an empirical study in Vietnam

PurposeThis study investigates the determinants of digital competencies (DC) of students and professionals in accounting.Design/methodology/approachA total of 278 valid questionnaires were collected from 145 accounting students and 133 professionals to test the relationship between some characteristics of learners through the t-test and two-way ANOVA test.FindingsThe results showed a difference in DC between students and professionals. Whereas the characteristics of students do not influence their DC, gender and the number of short courses significantly affect their DC. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) should be provided in accounting programs as core competencies.Research limitations/implicationsA sample size that is not too large and does not include learners and professionals in the central and northern areas is problematic.Practical implicationsThe key findings support the development of policies for digital transformation in accounting.Originality/valueAccounting is one of the professions that must keep up with the changes in the world, which is in the process of rapid digitalization. Hence, this study is valuable for accounting practitioners, higher education institutions and managers to enhance DC continuously.

Direct Observed Therapy of Inhaled Corticosteroids for Asthma at School or Daycare.

Background: Poor adherence with inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) medication is common in the pediatric population and can result in poor asthma control with increased frequency of asthma-related complications. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not the initiation of ICS administration twice per day at school/daycare in patients with poor medication adherence at home improves asthma health care outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively selected patients followed by our Pediatric Pulmonology Clinic who had poorly controlled asthma and had been assigned to receive ICS twice daily at school/daycare due to poor adherence with ICS therapy. We analyzed the number of short courses of oral corticosteroids, hospital admissions, emergency department visits, and intramuscular methylprednisolone administrations for asthma exacerbations for the year before and after the intervention. The Wilcoxon signed rank test with continuity correction was used in the primary analysis. Results: Forty-nine patients who met the inclusion criteria were identified, but only 40 actually started the intervention. The number of oral corticosteroid courses per year decreased from 1.35 ± 1.1 before the intervention to 0.68 ± 1.2 (P = 0.008) postintervention, hospital admissions per year decreased from 0.45 ± 0.7 to 0.10 ± 0.3 (P = 0.006), emergency department visits per year decreased from 0.55 ± 0.8 to 0.28 ± 0.6 (P = 0.084), and intramuscular repository methylprednisolone injections per year for asthma exacerbations decreased from 0.20 ± 0.4 to 0.10 ± 0.3 (P = 0.23). Conclusion: These results indicate that school/daycare administration of ICS may be an effective option to improve indicators of asthma exacerbations in children with poor adherence to ICS at home.

275 Epidemiology of antibiotic prescribing in Dermatology: A retrospective analysis 2008-2016

Introduction: Dermatologists prescribe more oral antibiotics per capita than any other specialty; this use may be associated with a number of adverse outcomes including antibiotic resistance, inflammatory bowel disease, and colon cancer, among others. Understanding the epidemiology of prescribing practices in Dermatology will help identify opportunities to optimize the use of antibiotics. Methods: All prescriptions for oral antibiotics written by dermatologists were identified from 2008-2016 in the de-identified Clinformatics DataMart. Prescriptions were consolidated into courses of therapy and associated with the primary diagnosis from the most recent visit. Courses were separated into those of extended duration (>28 days) and short duration (≤28 days). Results: Tetracyclines were the most frequently prescribed antibiotic class. The top 3 diagnoses associated with extended courses were acne, rosacea, and hidradenitis suppurativa; the number of extended courses prescribed per 100 visits declined from 1.44 in 2008 to 0.87 in 2016. The top 3 diagnoses associated with short courses were skin and soft tissue infections, skin cancer, and follicular disorders; the number of short courses prescribed per 100 visits increased from 0.53 in 2008 to 0.75 in 2016. Between 2008 and 2016 , prescriptions related to acne decreased from 8.75 to 6.73 courses per 100 visits, while prescriptions associated with visits for skin cancer increased from 1.35 to 2.37 courses per 100 visits. Discussion: Antibiotic use in Dermatology appears to be decreasing overall, although use remains common for a variety of conditions. Continuing to develop alternative strategies to oral antibiotics for the management of non-infectious conditions can improve antibiotic stewardship and reduce complications associated with antibiotic use. In addition, given the rising prevalence of antibiotic use associated with visits for skin cancer, there may be an opportunity to evaluate optimal practices for the use of perioperative antibiotics in Dermatology.

Education: The Heart of the Matter.

There are inadequate numbers of anesthesia providers in many parts of the world. Good quality educational programs are needed to increase provider numbers, train leaders and teachers, and increase knowledge and skills. In some countries, considerable external support may be required to develop self-sustaining programs. There are some key themes related to educational programs in low- and middle-income countries:(1) Programs must be appropriate for the local environment-there is no "one-size-fits-all" program. In some countries, nonuniversity programs may be appropriate for training providers.(2) It is essential to train local teachers-a number of short courses provide teacher training. Overseas attachments may also play an important role in developing leadership and teaching capacity.(3) Interactive teaching techniques, such as small-group discussions and simulation, have been incorporated into many educational programs. Computer learning and videoconferencing offer additional educational possibilities.(4) Subspecialty education in areas such as obstetric anesthesia, pediatric anesthesia, and pain management are needed to develop leadership and increase capacity in subspecialty areas of practice. Examples include short subspecialty courses and clinical fellowships.(5) Collaboration and coordination are vital. Anesthesiologists need to work with ministries of health and other organizations to develop plans that are matched to need. External organizations can play an important role.(6) Excellent education is required at all levels. Training guidelines could help to standardize and improve training. Resources should be available for research, as well as monitoring and evaluation of educational programs.

Medical Officers in Sierra Leone: Surgical Training Opportunities, Challenges and Aspirations

The critical shortage of human resources for healthcare falls most heavily on sub-Saharan nations such as Sierra Leone, where such workforce deficits have grave impacts on its burden of surgical disease. An important aspect in retention and development of the workforce is training. This study focuses on postgraduate surgical training (formal and short course) and perceptions of opportunities, challenges and aspirations, in a country where more than half of surgical procedures are performed by medical officers. The study presents findings from 12 in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted with medical officers by the primary investigator in Sierra Leone between April and June 2017. Each interview was transcribed alongside an introspective reflexive journal to acknowledge and account for researcher biases. Two interviewees had accessed postgraduate surgical training and 10 (83%) had accessed short course surgically relevant training. The number of short courses accessed grew higher the more recently the medical officers had graduated. Supervision, short length and international standards were the most appreciated aspects of short training courses. Some medical officers perceived the formal postgraduate surgical training programme to be ill-equipped, doubting its credibility. This demotivated some from applying. Training is an essential aspect of developing an adequate surgical workforce. Faith must be restored in the capabilities of Sierra Leone's Ministry of Health and Sanitation to provide adequate and sustainable training. This study advocates for the use of short courses to restore this faith and the expansion of postgraduate surgical training to the districts through developing a regional teaching complex to provide short courses and eventually formal postgraduate training in the future.

Anatomy on tour: Postgraduate surgical training in a mobile teaching unit

Candidates for postgraduate surgical exams now have to learn much of their anatomy de novo rather than simply revise what they learned as medical students. A number of short courses have developed that help candidates prepare for the Intercollegiate Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS). Unfortunately these courses tend to be centralised and trainees incur high travel and accommodation costs when attending them. Trainees are also absent from their hospitals for long periods, which can disrupt clinical services.

Critical Steps for the Continuing Advancement of Hydrogeophysics

Special hydrogeophysics issues published by hydrology and geophysics journals, special sessions and workshops at conferences, and an increasing number of short courses demonstrate the growing interest in the use of geophysics for hydrologic investigations. The formation of the hydrogeophysics technical subcommittee of AGU's Hydrology section adds further evidence of the recognized significance of this growing interdisciplinary field. Given the clear value of nondestructive and nonintrusive imaging for subsurface investigations, we believe the advances in the adoption of existing geophysical methods, the development of novel methods, and the merging of geophysical and other data made in hydrogeophysics could be applied to a wide range of geological, environmental, and engineering applications.

Do short courses of oral corticosteroids and use of inhaled corticosteroids affect bone health in children?

This Practice Point commentary discusses the findings of a prospective study by Kelly et al. that evaluated the effect of multiple short courses of oral corticosteroids and use of inhaled corticosteroids on bone accrual in children with asthma. The researchers determined the cumulative number of short courses of oral corticosteroids and the cumulative dose of inhaled corticosteroids over a 7-year study period. Multiple short courses of oral corticosteroids in boys, but not girls, were a dose-dependent risk factor for decreased bone-mineral accrual and osteopenia. Inhaled corticosteroid use in boys, but not girls, was also associated with decreased bone accrual, but the association was not dose-dependent. However, no effect of corticosteroids on fracture risk was found. Here, I discuss the relevance of these findings in relation to attainment of peak bone mass and outline how the findings could be complicated by disease-related effects of asthma on bone health.

Self-administered prescriptions of oral steroids and antibiotics in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: are we doing more harm than good?

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are often given a prescription for a short course of oral steroids and antibiotics for self-administration during an acute exacerbation. The main objective of this study was to determine the impact of such prescriptions on medical care utilization, and steroids and antibiotics intake. This retrospective cohort study included patients with moderate to severe COPD participating in a self-management programme. We compared the number of unplanned medical visits (including hospitalizations) and the utilization of systemic steroids (number of short courses, number of days on treatment) and antibiotics (number of treatments) over a period of six months following registration to the programme in patients who received such a prescription and those who did not. Data were collected from hospital and community pharmacy files. A total of 89 patients were included; 46 received a self-administered prescription. During the study period, we found no difference between the two groups in the number of unplanned medical visits. However, we observed small but significant differences in the number of short courses of Prednisone (P = 0.018) and antibiotics (P = 0.006). This translated in an important difference in the number of days on steroids over the same period (;Prescription' group: 26; controls: 8; P = 0.005). Self-administered prescriptions may increase steroids and antibiotics utilization in patients with moderate to severe COPD, without reducing the number of unplanned medical visits.

Essentials of medical geology: impacts of the natural environment on public health

Essentials of medical geology: impacts of the natural environment on public health

Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression in asthmatics inhaling high dose corticosteroids

The frequency of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression in asthmatics taking high dose (greater than 1000 micrograms daily) inhaled corticosteroids is unknown. HPA function was studied in 78 adult asthmatics taking long-term inhaled corticosteroids (median dose 1600 micrograms, range 1200-2650 micrograms daily). All patients except one were using metered dose aerosols; 15 were using large volume spacer devices. Median duration of high dose therapy was 13 months (range 1-54). Sixty-nine patients were taking beclomethasone dipropionate (1500 micrograms, n = 36; 2000 micrograms, n = 26, greater than 2000 micrograms, n = 7) and nine budesonide (1200 micrograms, n = 2; 1600 micrograms, n = 6; 1800 micrograms, n = 1). Four patients, all of whom were taking greater than 2000 micrograms beclomethasone dipropionate, were taking 200-400 micrograms of their total dose intranasally. Twenty-six patients had discontinued long term systemic corticosteroid treatment (at least 5 mg prednisolone daily, or equivalent, for a minimum of 6 months) between 7 months and 22 years prior to assessment. All patients had measurements of 9 am serum cortisol and 24-h urine free cortisol excretion and a short tetracosactrin test. Subnormal results were: 9 am cortisol less than 190 nmol l-1; rise in serum cortisol in response to tetracosactrin less than 200 nmol l-1 and/or achieved cortisol less than 500 nmol l-1; urine free cortisol less than 80 nmol 24 h-1. Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal suppression was defined as subnormal results in at least two of the three tests. Tests were performed at least 2 weeks after completion of any short course prednisolone treatments. Suppression was found in 16 (20.5%) patients (1500 micrograms, n = 6; 1600 micrograms, n = 1; 2000 micrograms, n = 7; 2400 micrograms, n = 2). Risk factors identified for this suppression were: (a) previous requirement for long-term systemic corticosteroids (10/26, chi 2 = 6.1, P less than 0.02); and (b) increasing duration of high dose inhaled therapy (median 28.5 months in suppressed vs. 12 months in normal, P less than 0.05). No clear relationship was identified between HPA function and dose, even when corrected for body surface area and there was no relationship between suppression and number of short courses of prednisolone in the preceding 12 months. Screening tests of HPA function should be performed in all asthmatics taking greater than or equal to 1500 micrograms inhaled corticosteroid daily. Unless function has been shown to be normal, all patients taking these doses should carry steroid cards.

1987 MRS Fall Meeting An Unqualified Success

Chaired by J. Murray Gibson (AT&T Bell Laboratories), S. Thomas Picraux (Sandia National Laboratories), and Barry E. Scheetz (Pennsylvania State University), the 1987 MRS Fall Meeting in Boston shattered several attendance records as it offered an unprecedented collection of leading-edge technical symposia and short courses. Activities began before the start of the technical symposia with a one-day short course on Conventional and High Temperature Superconductors on Sunday, November 29. The 20 technical symposia ran from Monday through Friday, November 30-December 4, and short courses continued through Saturday, December 5.Rounding out the schedule were several additional events: the popular lunchtime Symposium X on Frontiers of Materials Research, a forum on Education in Materials Science and Engineering with an address by National Science Foundation director Erich Bloch, a workshop on Specimen Preparation for Transmission Electron Microscopy of Materials, the Plenary Address by William C. DeVries on “Medical and Materials Issues of the Total Artificial Heart” (to be published in an upcoming issue of the BULLETIN), and the Von Hippel Award lecture on “Orientation Mapping” given by the award's 1987 recipient, Sir Charles Frank (see p. 24 in this issue).Total meeting attendance passed 3,500, making 1987 another year of record growth for MRS. Similarly, the number of short courses and shortcourse students rose over previous years, and the increasingly popular equipment exhibit overflowed to additional booths outside the main exhibit hall. One exhibit featured its own speaker, Yorick, a talking skeleton, from the Division of Mechanics and Materials Science, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

IAI Corporate Software Engineering Training and Education Program

Israel Aircraft Industries has developed a comprehensive educational program in software engineering. Goals of the program include: the retraining of college graduates to become software engineers with specializations in one of three application areas (data processing, embedded computer systems, and CAD/CAM systems), and enhancement of the knowledge of currently practicing software engineers. The program is centered around three distinct full-time courses of study having an average duration of 7 months. The training program also includes a large number of short courses and seminars. The company is currently planning an M.Sc. program in embedded computer systems and software engineering in cooperation with one of the universities in Israel.

Project management education — levels of understanding and misunderstanding

A brief review is given of the teaching of project management to both undergradute and postgraduate students at university and college and also in a large number of short courses for industrial managers. The present weaknesses of project management teaching are commented upon and recommendations are made for its improvement. In particular, a list of common faults is set out, illustrating that the simple learning of techniques is only a small part of a true understanding of the complex subject of project management. Many people who complete courses do not achieve that understanding.

Short Courses on Fiber Optical Communications

The fiber optical communications industry has grown quickly in the past few years. This growth, which will continue for some time, makes it necessary that many presently employed engineers receive training in the fundamentals of fiber optic devices and systems. This training is presently available through a number of short courses offered by university extension divisions, technical societies, and commercial firms. In this paper, I discuss the nature and present state of this type of optics education, examine its effectiveness, and describe a typical short course.

The problem of adult illiteracy

CONSCIOUS OF the problem and convinced of the case for public library involvement the Public Library Research Group decided in May of last year to set up a working party on adult illiteracy. They were encouraged in this by a growing concern about the implications for public librarians of the plans of various national bodies and the evidence of the profession's response to a number of short courses.

Notes and personalia

To help practicing scientists and engineers keep abreast of advances in rapidly developing fields of science and technology, the University of Michigan will offer a number of short courses during the summer. Among those designed to be of interest to geophysicists are ‘Numerical Methods and Computer Techniques’ and ‘Communications Theory.’ Of particular interest to aeronomists is the course ‘High Altitude Science’ which is scheduled to be hold July 12–16. For further information on these and other courses write to Engineering Summer Conferences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104.

Observations on ocular pigment and pigmentation.

I should like to be able to express adequately my deep and sincere appreciation of this honor. I am gratified beyond words to have been invited to deliver this de Schweinitz Lecture; but mingled with this feeling is a heavy sense of the responsibility involved. I want to take this opportunity to pay my personal tribute to the memory of Dr. de Schweinitz. He was a fine gentleman, always surrounded by an aura of greatness. It is not enough to say that he was an eminent ophthalmologist. He was a preeminent man who chose to be an ophthalmologist. He showed me many kindnesses during the time I knew him and worked under him, and I feel especially indebted for his having chosen me to assist Basil Graves, whom he brought over from England to give a number of short courses in slit lamp microscopy. It was in the earliest days

The Teaching of Radiology in Short Courses

Medical science, ever-changing as it is, demands continuous education of its practitioners. The maintenance of a high standard of medical practice necessitates frequent visits to centers of learning by the average physician. The recognition of this fact in certain foreign countries has led to a system of post-graduate courses, which the physician, in characteristic fashion, is compelled to attend at stated intervals. In this country, adhering to our traditional and cherished attitude of laissezfaire, increasing opportunity for post-graduate education is being afforded without compulsion. Sponsored by the organized profession, the state, or the university, a large number of short courses on various subjects, ranging in length from a few days to several months, are being offered, particularly to the general practitioner. Some of these are of the “refresher” variety; others are devoted to newer advances. It should be clearly understood that this discussion does not concern itself with the longer, more formal...