Perceptions Of Training Programs Research Articles

Training Center Employees’ Perceptions of the Village Animal Health Worker Training Program in Nepal

Employees are an integral part of training organizations. They play key roles in planning, implementing, and monitoring and evaluation of training programs. However, employees’ perceptions of training programs have not been fully studied. Building on professional learning community theory, this study sought to assess training center employees’ perceptions of village animal health worker (VAHW) training in Nepal. Twenty-seven employees took part in a group-administered survey conducted in June-July 2012. Respondents appreciated trainees’ participation in class discussions, availability of class handouts to trainees, and instructors’ facilitation skills. They indicated problems in participant selection, inadequacy of educational materials, and no or limited monitoring and follow-up of training programs. The findings suggest to keep human resources at training centers competent and inclusive, improve the training environments, and pursue programs to sustain VAHW training and associated services.

Retail deli managers and associates have better food safety culture in stores with lower Listeria monocytogenes contamination

Food safety climate and culture is an integral part of a healthy food safety system. While much research has been done on elements of food safety climate and culture, no data are available on their relationship with Listeria monocytogenes contamination at retail. We implemented a forty-four-question survey on sense of commitment, employee training, and personal hygiene in 50 United States grocery retail deli departments across six states to evaluate the links among food safety climate, culture, and L. monocytogenes control. One deli manager and up to five deli associates per establishment completed the survey. Survey responses were correlated with L. monocytogenes contamination risk and prevalence, respectively, via a generalized linear mixed model. Estimate and orthogonal contrast statements with Bonferroni adjustment were applied to elucidate significant effects trends. We found that a greater sense of commitment was correlated with lower L. monocytogenes contamination risk (padj = 0.0317). Delis with low risk of contamination reported a better, more complete employee training program (padj = 0.0117). A deep clean intervention significantly improved managers' (padj = 0.0243) and associates’ (padj = 0.0057) commitment to food safety and their perceptions of training programs (padj = 0.0291). Significant differences in occupation-disaggregated survey responses were reported regarding sense of commitment, training program, and infrastructure cleanability. Personal hygiene and handwashing had mixed results. This is the first study to elucidate the relationship between food safety climate and L. monocytogenes contamination in retail deli environments and provides directionality to sustainably improve food safety climate, culture, and sanitation in retail delis environments.

Perceptions of training programs and institutions in Food Security and Nutrition (SAN) in Honduras

Perceptions of training programs and institutions in Food Security and Nutrition (SAN) in Honduras

Are Canadian General Internal Medicine training program graduates well prepared for their future careers?

BackgroundAt a time of increased need and demand for general internists in Canada, the attractiveness of generalist careers (including general internal medicine, GIM) has been falling as evidenced by the low number of residents choosing this specialty. One hypothesis for the lack of interest in a generalist career is lack of comfort with the skills needed to practice after training, and the mismatch between the tertiary care, inpatient training environment and "real life". This project was designed to determine perceived effectiveness of training for 10 years of graduates of Canadian GIM programs to assist in the development of curriculum and objectives for general internists that will meet the needs of graduates and ultimately society.MethodsMailed survey designed to explore perceived importance of training for and preparation for various aspects of Canadian GIM practice. After extensive piloting of the survey, including a pilot survey of two universities to improve the questionnaire, all graduates of the 16 universities over the previous ten years were surveyed.ResultsGaps (difference between importance and preparation) were demonstrated in many of the CanMEDS 2000/2005® competencies. Medical problems of pregnancy, perioperative care, pain management, chronic care, ambulatory care and community GIM rotations were the medical expert areas with the largest gaps. Exposure to procedural skills was perceived to be lacking. Some procedural skills valued as important for current GIM trainees and performed frequently (example ambulatory ECG interpretation) had low preparation ratings by trainees. Other areas of perceived discrepancy between training and practice included: manager role (set up of an office), health advocate (counseling for prevention, for example smoking cessation), and professional (end of life issues, ethics).ConclusionGraduates of Canadian GIM training programs over the last ten years have identified perceived gaps between training and important areas for practice. They have identified competencies that should be emphasized in Canadian GIM programs. Ongoing review of graduate's perceptions of training programs as it applies to their current practice is important to ensure ongoing appropriateness of training programs. This information will be used to strengthen GIM training programs in Canada.