Training People Research Articles

Sexual Coping Mechanisms During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Determinants of Use, Usefulness, and Effects on Sex Life.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on many people's sex lives. The ways people cope with these adverse impacts are an urgent area that needs to be recognized by sexual health researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. Thus, this study investigated sexual coping mechanisms during the pandemic while clarifying their determinants of use and usefulness and examining their impacts on the quantity and quality of sex life. The cross-sectional data (N = 675) were collected using an online survey methodology in February-May 2021. The data were analyzed with one-sample and independent-samples t-tests, one-way between-subjects ANOVA, and multivariate multiple regression. This study identified eight sexual coping mechanisms during the pandemic, including creativity and pleasure, diversion, goal-setting, relational, educational, caution and logistical, online and technological, and innovation and experimentation strategies. All the coping mechanisms were used and rated significantly useful, albeit to different degrees. Gender, availability of a sex partner, the existence of children, and age served as determinants of different coping mechanisms' scope of use and degree of usefulness. The coping mechanisms predicted the frequency of sexual activity, sexual desire, and satisfaction with sex life during the pandemic. This study's results can help scholars and practitioners prevent or mitigate the deterioration of sex life during the pandemics and other crises and stressors. It is essential to train people concerning sexual coping resources and strategies to protect their sexual wellbeing and quality of life. Health researchers, practitioners, and policymakers must consider maintaining sexual health as an essential service. Recognizing sexual health, rights, education, and counseling is a prerequisite for appropriate prevention measures during the pandemic. It is vital to ensure the availability of proper resources supporting people's sexual coping processes during and after the pandemic.

Attention Training Program May Improve Social Anxiety Symptoms

Attention Training Program May Improve Social Anxiety Symptoms

Training People to Think in Opposites Facilitates the Falsification Process in Wason’s Rule Discovery Task

With reference to Wason's 2-4-6 rule discovery task, this study investigated the effects of a simple training session that prompted participants to "think in opposites". The results showed a significant improvement in performance under the training condition when compared to the control condition, both in terms of the proportion of participants who discovered the correct rule and how quickly it was discovered. An analysis of whether or not participant submitted test triples formed of descending numbers showed that fewer participants under the control condition considered ascending/descending to represent a critical dimension and, in any case, this occurred later (that is, after more test triples) than in the training condition. These results are discussed in relation to previous literature showing improvements in performance that were prompted by strategies involving "contrast" as a critical factor. The limitations of the study are discussed, as well as the benefits of a training program like this, which is non-content related.

Always Be Prepared

Always Be Prepared

Information and Communication Technology in Lifelong Learning: Opportunities for People with Disabilities

People with disabilities are underrepresented in adult education programmes that integrate information and communication technology (ICT), posing a challenge in adopting the pace of change facilitated by technological advancement. The increased use of ICT in facilitating lifelong learning presents challenges for training and retraining people with disabilities in the sense that, they are denied access to ICT. This study employed constructivism and communities of practice theories to investigate innovation in how ICT can be used to create lifelong learning opportunities for people with visual and hearing disabilities. The study involved 30 people with disabilities enrolled in ICT skills training classes at the Open University of Tanzania. Data were collected through interviews. The findings suggest that people with disabilities can learn the use of ICT if involved in collaborative action research. It was also found that enhancing ICT skills training for people with disabilities faced physical, fiscal, and human resources challenges. The study recommends increased funding for ICT skills training for people with disabilities to enhance their participation in lifelong learning.

Idiosyncrasy, Contradiction and Law: A Three-Dimensional Survey of Marxist Youth Cultivation

The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) pointed out that we should persist in educating talents for the Party and the country. The reality shows that paying attention to youth and attaching importance to youth is the magic weapon for the CPC to maintain its vitality. For whom to train people, who to train, and how to train people, these three issues are crucial to both the Chinese nation and the CPC. Therefore, in the process of shaping young Marxists, only by grasping the characteristics, finding contradictions and grasping the laws, can young people better grow into the backbone of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. In view of this, this paper proposes four paths: Strengthening ideological guidance and cultivating family and country feelings; Pay attention to the guidance of youth action and stimulate their subjective initiative; Stimulate youth's action force and promote youth self-discipline; Build a positive cultural atmosphere.

The emergence of social soft skill needs in the post COVID-19 era

Social soft skills are crucial for workers to perform their tasks, yet it is hard to train people on them and to readapt their skill set when needed. In the present work, we analyze the possible effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on social soft skills in the context of Italian occupations related to 88 economic sectors and 14 age groups. We leverage detailed information coming from ICP (i.e. the Italian equivalent of O*Net), provided by the Italian National Institute for the Analysis of Public Policy, from the microdata for research on the continuous detection of labor force, provided by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), and from ISTAT data on the Italian population. Based on these data, we simulate the impact of COVID-19 on workplace characteristics and working styles that were more severely affected by the lockdown measures and the sanitary dispositions during the pandemic (e.g. physical proximity, face-to-face discussions, working remotely). We then apply matrix completion—a machine-learning technique often used in the context of recommender systems—to predict the average variation in the social soft skills importance levels required for each occupation when working conditions change, as some changes might be persistent in the near future. Professions, sectors, and age groups showing negative average variations are exposed to a deficit in their social soft-skills endowment, which might ultimately lead to lower productivity.

Introduction of interactive teaching methods in modern schools

Modern society puts forward new challenges for education, one of which is training people who are able to express critical opinions, find a way of communication in a new territory, who effectively establish new connections in a fast-moving reality. Intension, activity, independence, creativity, the ability to adapt to rapid changes – these personality traits are becoming the most important at the current stage of developing literature, and their formation requires using new approaches to the process of teaching literacy. Therefore, the purpose of the academic paper is to clarify the development of using innovative, non-standard, as well as critical thinking methods of teaching and learning at modern schools. In the course of the research, the following methods were used and applied, namely: analysis, synthesis, generalization, explanation and qualification of data. By the way, such outstanding modern and foreign scientists as O. Pometun, L. Pyrozhenko, as well as V. Bespalko, V. Monakhova paid particular attention to studying the issue of interactive learning methods and made a significant contribution in this direction. They explain innovations in education as an opportunity for interaction, being in the mode of conversation, dialogue, action. Moreover, their studies show that interactive learning makes it possible to significantly increase the percentage of learning the material, as it affects not only the student’s consciousness but also his feelings. The development of interactive learning elements can be found in the scientific works of V. Sukhomlynskyi, the works of innovative teachers of the 70-80s (V. Shatalov, E. Ilyin, S. Lysenkova, Sh. Amonashvili, etc.), the theory of developmental learning.

Ways and prospects of development of higher inclusive education in Russia

The subject of the study is the problem of the functioning of inclusive education in Russian universities. Through the analysis of modern documents proclaiming the right of persons with disabilities to receive quality education, as well as the actual practice of introducing inclusion in the activities of universities, the author attempts to assess the level of development of higher inclusive education in Russia. The paper describes the main approaches of universities to teaching students with disabilities and with disabilities. The problems of universities that cause insufficient readiness of universities to accept and train people with disabilities are identified. The author's attention is focused on ways to overcome the identified difficulties, as well as issues of improving the process of inclusion in the activities of universities by conducting self-examination in higher education institutions for the university's readiness to teach students with disabilities. When considering materials of a legislative and legal nature, the author of the work used such research methods as analysis, description, synthesis. In order to identify the most fruitful ways of organizing an accessible educational environment for people with disabilities in universities, the method of analyzing pedagogical experience was also used. When formulating the conclusions of the study, general theoretical methods of comparison and systematization proved to be in demand. The main conclusion of the study is that Russian higher inclusive education is currently experiencing only a stage of its development, and it is too early to talk about true inclusivity in the practice of Russian universities. However, the work reflects the measures taken by universities to ensure comfortable conditions for the education of people with disabilities. Among them: the desire to expand the specialized material, technical and didactic base, the organization of psychological and pedagogical support of the category of students and teachers interacting with it. The fruitfulness of the introduction of advanced training courses for the teaching staff, the creation of resource training and methodological centers is noted. The novelty of the research lies in the fact that the author of the work introduces the concept of the inclusivity index – a kind of result of self-reflection of the university's activities, which allows to indicate the degree of its readiness to accept students with disabilities.The author also presents the main components of the inclusivity index, which are necessary for clarification when compiling questionnaires for self-examination of the university.

Counsellors’ perceived health promoting behaviours for enhancing physical well-being of clients

This study adopts a descriptive survey design to seek for information, opinions and attitudes of the respondents and it is carried out in Anambra state of Nigeria. A total number of 143 counsellors who are willing to participate in the study are selected through accidental sampling technique. The instrument ‘perceived counsellors’ health promoting behaviours for enhancing physical well-being of clients (PCSHPBSFEPWBOCS) developed by the researchers based on the information from the literature reviewed is used for data collections through direct approach distribution. This instrument is validated by three experts. Test re-test was used to establish the reliability of the instrument and the reliability coefficient of 0.76 was obtained. The data collected are analyzed through the use of statistical weighted mean and ranking. Any mean score that is below 2.50 is accepted while any one below a mean score of 2.50 is rejected. The study revealed the following health promoting behaviours: engaging in daily exercise, taking healthy diet, minimizing hazards in the home and workplace, practicing effective hygiene, consumption of limited alcohol and tobacco, having adequate sleep and rest, little intake of salt, sugar and processed foods, adequate hydration, sunlight and fresh air having relaxed mind and maintaining a healthy body weight. The researchers recommend that Government should provide funds in support of the counsellors to educating and training people on promoting healthy behaviours that can enhance their physical well-being. Also, counsellors should increase the awareness on the adoption of these health promoting behaviours through the use of media and public announcements.

How to self-examine for tender and swollen joints: co-producing a training video for people with rheumatoid arthritis.

This paper describes the co-production of a training video to support people with RA to self-examine for tender and swollen joints. The patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) group supporting a remote monitoring study elected to develop a video to train people with RA how to self-examine for tender and swollen joints, because nothing appropriate was publicly available to fulfil their needs. A core team of PPIE group members and clinicians developed the video, with input from conception to dissemination from the PPIE group. The video was posted, open access, on a YouTube website in February 2021, alongside supporting materials. The number of monthly hits was tracked and a survey developed to ascertain feedback. The video received 1000 hits in the first week, and >40 000 at 10 months. The top three countries viewing the video were India, the USA and the UK, with a range of ages and gender profile broadly corresponding to those of RA patients. Forty-eight survey responses were received (26 patients and 22 clinicians). Patients reported an improvement in their ability to self-examine after watching this video. Eighty-six per cent of patients and 71% of clinicians would recommend the video. It has been used and disseminated by a number of national organizations within the UK. This co-produced, open-access training video for people with RA, originally intended to support a research study into remote monitoring, has been well received, reflecting an international interest in self-examination.

Lego® bricks assisted training of the novice debriefers.

Lego® Serious Play® is a guided workshop in which participants construct Lego creations to represent symbolic and metaphorical ideas in response to assignments. How to encourage inexperienced debriefers to concentrate on dialogue and communications strategies rather than engage in an unstructured debate on technical or behavioral abilities is one of the main challenges in training people to debrief a high-fidelity simulation session. We explore the use of Lego bricks in this study to build straightforward, standardised situations that debriefers in training can use to practice leading discussion. With this method, the different debriefing methodologies may be practiced focusing exclusively on method and dialogue, without getting involved or having to concentrate on the technical aspects.

Mindfulness: Implementation and evaluation of an intervention program for people with alcohol dependence

IntroductionThe treatment of the person with alcohol dependence allows the possibility of a self-determined alcoholic abstinence and reducing the consequences associated with alcohol-related problems at a personal, family, work and social level.It is important to develop therapeutic strategies that complement the different approaches in the treatment of people with alcohol dependence, enabling them to use effective coping strategies that facilitate the maintenance of their self-determined alcohol abstinence. In recent years, scientific evidence has emerged that justifies the adoption of mindfulness-based protocols as a complement to various treatments, both for the prevention of relapses and as a treatment enhancer.ObjectivesTo train people with alcohol dependence to use Mindfulness;To promote psychological well-being and positive emotions;To reduce anxiety;To evaluate the effectiveness of a Mindfulness-based intervention program.MethodsThe Mindfulness-based intervention program was developed with 2 groups of people hospitalized for the treatment of alcohol dependence (the institution’s treatment protocol is comprehensive and based on self-determined alcohol abstinence). The 1st G (pilot) - 6 people; 2nd G - 5 people), total of 11 participants; 4 sessions (each group), duration 45-60 minutes.The selection criteria of the participants were evaluated in an interview and defined as follows: being in the first week of the treatment program; self and allo psychic orientation; reduced to moderate anxiety (Zung Self-Assessment Anxiety Scale - EAAZ); existence of motivation for change.Participants gave informed consent.In the global assessment used instruments: Psychological General Well-being Scale for the Portuguese population (BEP); Short Version of the Portuguese Scale of Positive and Negative Affect (PANAS-VRP) in the first session (before intervention). In the last session (after the intervention), in addition to the BEP and the PANAS-VRP, the EAAZ was also used.At the end of each session, an evaluation was carried out using a grid built for this purpose.Results As for the general psychological well-being, the BEP, only one participant (pilot group) had a final score lower than the initial one.With regard to PANAS-VRP, in both groups, there was an increase in positive affection and a reduction in negative affection at the end of program implementation.With regard to the EAAZ, 7 participants showed a decrease in anxiety after the intervention.The evaluation grid of each session revealed good participation, good adhesion and positive evaluation.ConclusionsIt is concluded that after the implementation of the Mindfulness-based intervention program there was: an increase in well-being (the higher the score, the greater the state of well-being); increase in positive affection (which remained or increased); decrease in negative affection and decrease in the level of anxiety.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Editorial—The truth is out there: The psychology of conspiracy theories and how to counter them

Editorial—The truth is out there: The psychology of conspiracy theories and how to counter them

Attributes of pharmacy's educational activities according to good pharmacy practice standards from the perspective of patients with diabetes

According to the Good Pharmaceutical Practice (GPP) Standards of Quality of Pharmacy Services, pharmacists should participate in preventive measures to improve the health of the population and prevent disease. The problem of diabetes is becoming increasingly relevant due to its prevalence and a significant number of undiagnosed cases. Patients with diabetes are frequent visitors to pharmacies and have specific needs for treatment.
 The purpose of the study was to determine the attributes of pharmaceutical educational activities in pharmacies according to the standards of GPP from the perspective of patients with diabetes, as well as to compare the obtained results with similar ones in other countries.
 The objects of the study were information sources regarding the involvement of pharmacists in the strategy of preventing diabetes in other countries, using literature review and analytical methods. To study the perspective of patients with diabetes, a semi-structured in-depth interview of patients with diabetes who use insulin therapy was applied.
 Based on research using the semi-structured in-depth interview method, attributes of educational activities were identified in providing pharmaceutical care to patients with diabetes according to GPP standards: identifying individuals with risk factor of diabetes and people with undiagnosed diabetes; group training of diabetes patients in self-management control; and recommendations flu vaccination in the pre-epidemic period. The availability of diabetes risk factor detection and blood glucose testing in pharmacies contributes to early diagnosis and motivates patients to change their lifestyles. Training people with diabetes by qualified specialists are important for diabetes patients. The organasing of the «diabetes self management school» in pharmacies will increase the accessibility of training for diabetes patients and at the same time enhance the role of pharmacists in clinical practice and the social image of the pharmacy. To promote flu vaccination among patients with diabetes, pharmacists should be actively involved in providing information and promoting vaccination.
 The identified attributes of educational activities in providing pharmaceutical care according to GPP standards have already been implemented in many countries of the world and have demonstrated their high efficiency for the health care system.

Effectiveness of a Training Program Based on Infographic Technique in Providing Corona Virus Prevention Skills (COVID-19) for Children with intellectual disabilities (Educable)

The current study aims to study the effectiveness of a training program based on infographic technique in providing Corona Virus Prevention Skills (COVID- 19) for children with intellectual disabilities (Educable). Ten children with intellectual disabilities (Educable) and their caregivers are cohesion as a sample for this study, with an average age of (12.9) years, and average intelligence (69). Corona Virus Prevention Skills Scale was applied to the sample, then the program was applied to them. After that the telemetry and tracking were applied on the sample. The results show that: there are statistically significant differences between the mean levels of the group members ’scores in the pre and post procedural measurements on the Corona virus prevention skills scale for people with intellectual disabilities at the level (0.01) in the direction of the post measurement. Moreover, there is no statistically significant differences between the mean scores of the group members ’scores in the two-dimensional and consecutive measurements (one month after the end of the program) on the Corona Virus Prevention Skills for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities scale. The study recommends the need to train people with intellectual disabilities in skills to prevent viruses and infectious diseases, and the use of infographic techniques in various training programs. Key words: Infographic - Prevention Skills - Corona Virus (COVID- 19) - Intellectual Disabled (Educable).

How Can Governmental Incentives Inspire Youth to Be More Engaged in Environmental Protection?

During the past years, environmental protection and adopting countermeasures against climate change have been on the agenda of many East African countries, as well as western nations, although a common challenge confronted by policymakers is directing young people’s interest toward the environment. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of certain factors that can be adopted by government bodies as a strategy to make youth more engaged in environmental activities. An electronic questionnaire was completed by Djiboutian young people from February 2022 to late June 2022. We retrieved 440 out of 500 questionnaires; a structural equation model was subsequently employed to assess the effects of government rewards, interactions, capacity building and favourable policies on youth engagement. According to the results, all the factors demonstrated a positive impact on youth engagement; consequently, we conclude that young people have tendencies to engage in activities that revolve around environmental issues when there is a reward system in place. Likewise, establishing an interactive platform that accommodates young people’s opinions while the government provides reasonable feedback will stimulate engagement. Reasonably, embracing policies in favour of the environment will depict the government as an effective, responsible leader, retroactively influencing young people’s perceptions. On the other hand, allowing youths to participate in the process of policies formulation will guarantee a long-term societal engagement, since, pragmatically speaking, these adopted policies will eventually influence their future; at the same time, we conclude that providing proper training and building young people’s capacity will provide them with fundamental personal skills, while simultaneously enhancing their sustainable attitude to respond adequately to environmental challenges consequently assisting the national government with their environmental endeavours. Finally, the following paper contributes to the relevant existing body of literature, by providing empirical evidence on different types of government initiatives that could make young people more engaged and inclined in environmental issues.

Testing the efficacy of real-time fMRI neurofeedback for training people who smoke daily to upregulate neural responses to nondrug rewards.

Although the use of nondrug rewards (e.g., money) to facilitate smoking cessation is widespread, recent research has found that such rewards may be least effective when people who smoke cigarettes are tempted to do so. Specifically, among people who smoke, the neural response to nondrug rewards appears blunted when access to cigarettes is anticipated, and this blunting is linked to a decrease in willingness to refrain from smoking to earn a monetary incentive. Accordingly, methods to enhance the value of nondrug rewards may be theoretically and clinically important. The current proof-of-concept study tested if real-time fMRI neurofeedback training augments the ability to upregulate responses in reward-related brain areas relative to a no-feedback control condition in people who smoke. Adults (n = 44, age range = 20-44) who reported smoking >5 cigarettes per day completed the study. Those in the intervention group (n = 22, 5 females) were trained to upregulate brain responses using feedback of ongoing striatal activity (i.e., a dynamic "thermometer" that reflected ongoing changes of fMRI signal intensity in the striatum) in a single neurofeedback session with three training runs. The control group (n = 22, 5 females) underwent a nearly identical procedure but received no neurofeedback. Those who received neurofeedback training demonstrated significantly greater increases in striatal BOLD activation while attempting to think about something rewarding compared to controls, but this effect was present only during the first training run. Future neurofeedback research with those who smoke should explore how to make neurofeedback training more effective for the self-regulation of reward-related brain activities.

Evaluation of a sensory and cognitive online training tool for odor recognition in professional coffee tasters

AbstractThe sense of smell plays an essential role in the sensory evaluation of coffee. However, a precise sensory evaluation also requires good memory and the ability to stay focused and concentrated. This study aimed to investigate the effect of an online sensory and cognitive training program on the odor recognition of 36 coffee aromas. A total of 44 coffee professionals participated in a randomized crossover trial. It consisted of an online training program with different sensory and cognitive tasks over two periods of 6 weeks. The participants were divided into three study groups for data analysis purposes: a Control‐first group (n = 16), a matching Intervention‐first group (n = 16), and a second Intervention‐first‐residual group (n = 12) to check for repeatability of the test results. On average, the participants improved their odor recognition score by 15% after 6 weeks of training (p < .01) and maintained a high‐performance level after the control period. A positive correlation between completed training and improvement was observed (p < .001). The participants significantly improved their ability to detect the 36 Le Nez du Café aromas commonly used in the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) and the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) exam systems.Practical ApplicationsThe new online training program is a promising tool for improving the odor recognition of coffee professionals. The sensory training can easily be accomplished as it is executable off‐site, is self‐instructive, and does not require any supervision. A further generalization of this new odor‐training program for noncoffee professionals may potentially train people with prolonged loss in olfactory function, such as observed in coronavirus disease 2019 patients.

Solidarity engineering applied to liquid waste management

One of focuses of interest in engineering is that professionals remain active and update their different knowledge: knowing, doing and being, in this sense it is essential that young people in training acquire skills, abilities and competencies that allow them autonomy and the constant search for tailor-made solutions, considering the different forces in the environment, such as climate change and citizens. The inclusion of communities is relevant when solving problems, as in the case of this research, in wastewater. During two academic semesters of 2019, we worked with a vulnerable community, families living in camps or land grabs, in Viña del Mar, Chile. In the first place, the survey of drinking water needs and disposal of its gray and black waters was carried out, a limited, accessible and easily understood engineering proposal was developed, in the same way, government and/or private financing modalities were presented. Incorporating not only design and measurement activities, but also dialogues with the community, showing their pain and difficulties. More than 85% of families agreed with the solution, the same with the students who participated.