Postgraduate Degree Research Articles

Research demographics of Australian medical radiation practitioners

IntroductionAdvancement within the Medical Radiation Profession has seen an increased need for Medical Radiation Practitioners (MRPs) to develop research skills to provide and access relevant and accurate information to maintain best practice. The aim of this study was to ascertain the current research demographics of Australian Medical Radiation Practitioners (MRPs), determine perceived barriers to participating in research and to establish needs-based initiatives to support MRPs in undertaking research. MethodsA quantitative and qualitative cross-sectional survey of Australian MRPs using an electronic survey tool was distributed between November and December 2020. Participants were recruited via an invitation email sent to Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy (ASMIRT) members. A chain-referral sampling technique was adopted for data collection. ResultsA total of 431 participants responded to the survey, representing 2.3% of Australian MRPs. The majority of respondents had a bachelor's degree or higher (71.9%) with 8.4% having postgraduate research qualifications (PhD- 3.2%; Professional Doctorate- 0.7%; Masters- 4.5%). Of the respondents, 15.4% plan to undertake postgraduate research in the future, with 68.2% having no plans for postgraduate research. Respondents identified lack of time (47.0%), lack of interest (33.4%), cost (24.2%) and workplace support (23.9%) as contributing factors for not undertaking postgraduate research. ConclusionThe number of MRPs who have been awarded or will be awarded a postgraduate degree has increased over recent decades. However, many still indicate a lack of interest in being actively involved in research. Targeted support mechanisms should be implemented to address perceived or real barriers to continue to grow research capacity within the profession.

Authentic assessment and work-based learning: the case of professional studies in a post-COVID Australia

PurposeTo explore the conceptualisation and operationalisation of authentic assessment in work-based learning and research.Design/methodology/approachThe relationship between authentic assessment and work-based learning and research is examined using a postgraduate degree program at a regional university in Australia as a case example to identify unique pedagogical features of work-based learning as they are linked to assessment.FindingsA dynamic is created between formative and summative authentic assessment practices and the cross-current nature of learning in work and research, leading to a range of lifelong learning outcomes. A framework for such a dynamic is presented.Originality/valueThe pedagogy informing work-based learning emphasises developing higher-order thinking through reflective practice, developing competencies and capabilities associated with professional practice and developing academic writing and research skills to enhance professional identity at the postgraduate level for mid- to senior-career professionals. However, the relationship of authentic assessment to work-based learning and research has not been explicated in the literature and its application in post-COVID work environments has yet to be fully examined.

Walking side-by-side: Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians to lead the way in alcohol research.

Several initiatives have sought to increase the number of First Nations individuals with a higher degree in research (i.e., PhD or research masters)-in Australia and in similarly colonised countries. However, little has been written on day-to-day support structures and mechanisms that might help First Nations Australian candidates thrive in postgraduate research degrees and beyond. For sensitive research fields such as alcohol, emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers must grapple with topics which are stigmatising and in some instances associated with traumatic associations. There is also a lack of studies internationally that describe optimal support for First Nations students undertaking a higher degree by research with a primary focus on alcohol. Here we discuss what we have learned from the support offered through the Centre of Research Excellence in Indigenous Health and Alcohol-from the perspective of academic staff, students, trainees and early career researchers. We consider what may be generalisable lessons from this experience.

Environmental management begins in the family

The Institito Tecnológico de Toluca, is a higher level educational institution, which belongs to the National Technological System of Mexico, which has 9 degrees, in the engineering area, citing: Industrial (IE), Chemical (CI), Logistics (LE), Electromechanical (EE), bussines management’s (BME), Electronics (EE), Mechatronics (MI), Computational Systems (CSI) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTE,) and 3 postgraduate degrees: Master of Engineering Sciences (MES), Master of Sciences in Environmental Engineering (MSEE) and Doctorate in Environmental Sciences (DES), with a population of 5,408 students. Being a proudly public institution and classified as the best, by its employers at the state level, within which there is a Coordination called Institutional Environmental Program (IEP), which manages various strategies for the care, protection, remediation of the environment. But, in Mexico, since March 2019, educational institutions have been closed due to the context of the pandemic caused by covid-19. Academic activity being carried out, since then to date, via virtual. Faced with such a complicated, difficult and uncertain scenario. An environmental management model was developed, so that students from their homes develop prevention programs, protection and care of the ecosystem, developing sustainable strategies. Starting from the premise: If there is a polluting society it is because there are families that pollute, the family is the mirror of what happens in society. Within this program, an amalgam of strategies was considered, starting with motivation, awareness, reflection, knowledge and self-management to detonate a new environmental culture, starting from their homes and extending it to their families and neighbors. To carry out a multiplier effect, in geometric progression, having an excellent response from the students of the Instituto Tecnológico de Toluca (ITT). Among the various strategies within an application scenario, the following are cited: Responsible-reflective consumption, no generation of unnecessary waste (organic food waste reduction), no use of Unicel (expanded polystyrene), use of single-use containers (elimination of PET), no oil disposal used from the kitchen (application of a collection program), induction to the modification of nutritional intake by substituting beef for chicken, fish and vegetables, separation and classification of garbage, application of the use of compost for the organic food remains, water saving and leak elimination program, collection of cigarette butts thrown in public roads and gardens. Turning off lights in homes when they are not necessary (energy saving), only use of a motor vehicle in very necessary cases (mitigation of the effects of climate change). With these actions that began in this year 2021, we consider that we are working towards the reduction of negative environmental impacts, detonating a new culture and environmental awareness, among higher-level students (undergraduate), having a participation and involvement of 1,700 families and a number that continues to grow. Additionally, we are contributing to the 2030 Agenda, of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), especially regarding the objectives: 4.- Quality education, 11.- Sustainable cities and communities and 13.- Actions for the climate.Keyword: family, environmental culture, awareness, virtual scene, pollutants

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Preventative Behavior Toward Tuberculosis in University Students in Indonesia.

PurposeThis study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and preventative behaviors of university students in Indonesia toward Tuberculosis (TB).Patients and MethodsParticipants included students from a university in West Java, Indonesia, who were aged ≥18 years, had access to electronic communication devices and the internet, and agreed to participate in this study. This cross-sectional study invited participants to fill an online questionnaire on Google Forms, and the study was conducted from February to March 2021. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the demographic characteristics of participants. Differences in participants’ knowledge, attitudes, and preventative behavior were analyzed using t-test. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationships between variables. Characteristics of participants that influenced preventative behavior toward TB were analyzed using linear multiple regression analysis.ResultsThis study included 524 students. The average knowledge scores out of a possible 11 points of health and non-health students were 7.03 ± 2.36 (out of 11) and 4.98 ± 2.20, respectively. The attitude was 45.40 ± 4.17 (out of 52), 43.75 ± 4.09 respectively, and their average scores out of 44 for preventative behaviors toward TB were 33.08 ± 4.49 and 33.16 ± 4.40, respectively. Female students and students from health faculties demonstrated greater knowledge and better attitudes. Students with a postgraduate academic degree had better knowledge and attitudes and engaged in more preventative behavior. Students who did not smoke had greater knowledge than those who did, and students who had received information about TB engaged in more preventative behavior.ConclusionFaculty, knowledge of symptoms, preventative examinations, and attitudes toward preventative examinations, treatment, and preventative education, were found to affect TB prevention behavior. These variables should be emphasized in the development of university TB socialization and education programs. The internet and social media should be used in TB education for students.

Reflections on the Adaptation of a Postgraduate Degree in Water Management from In‐person to Remote Delivery

AbstractIn early 2020, the COVID‐19 pandemic spurred the rapid adaptation of university course delivery to an online format. Though in‐person delivery partially resumed in the Fall of 2021, future conditions may favor a return to, or addition of, remote delivery. It is therefore important for instructors, program directors, and institutions to capitalize on this learning opportunity and reflect on adaptation measures’ successes (and failures) to inform future online course design. The reworking of McGill University's Master of Science Program in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) provides a case study to evaluate the adaptation of remote teaching of water resource management. Informed by the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework with a focus on preserving transferable skills, a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis was used to evaluate the five core program components. This evaluation framework, which can be applied to most university programs, resulted in several widely relevant insights. For example, remote delivery can create opportunities for greater participation of international students as it eliminates the need for translocation costs. Likewise, a larger variety of guest speakers can participate remotely, giving students greater exposure to different water career paths and research perspectives, ultimately strengthening the program. However, several weaknesses pose threats to online learning. The standard in‐person lecture‐style format must therefore be amended to maintain engagement and facilitate student‐to‐student and student‐to‐instructor learning processes. Course components that can enhance the online experience include breakout rooms, discussion boards, frequent journals/feedback forms, online activities, breaks, virtual office hours, and multi‐media presentations.

Editorial introductions.

Editorial introductions.

Virtual Intervention for Caregivers of Persons With Lewy Body Dementia: Pilot Quasi-Experimental Single-Arm Study.

BackgroundCompared to other types of dementia, family caregivers of people with Lewy body dementia (LBD) report higher stress levels and more severe depressive symptoms. Although several digital support interventions for caregivers of persons with dementia exist, few target LBD specifically or leverage a fully remote and asynchronous approach suitable for pandemic circumstances.ObjectiveWe performed a pilot evaluation of a digital intervention designed to help caregivers of people with LBD address challenges they have experienced, with the end goal of reducing psychological distress in this population.MethodsWe recruited 15 family caregivers of people with LBD to participate in the quasi-experimental, single-arm, mixed methods study titled Virtual Online Communities for Aging Life Experience–Lewy Body Dementia (VOCALE-LBD). The study offers an 8-week web-based intervention that uses a digital discussion platform and involves moderation, peer-to-peer support, didactic training, and problem-solving skill enactment.ResultsParticipants’ baseline characteristics were the following: mean age 66 (SD 8) years; 14 of 15 (93%) of them were female; all (15/15, 100%) were White; and 8 (53%) of them had at least a postgraduate degree. Throughout the intervention, participants engaged in weekly web-based discussions, generating a total of 434 posts (average 4 posts per week). Attrition was 20% (3/15). Upon study exit, participants showed the following average improvements: 3.0 (SD 6.0) in depression, 8.3 (SD 16.7) in burden, 2.9 (SD 6.8) in stress, and 0.3 (SD 0.8) in loneliness. When looking at the proportion of participants with clinically significant improvement versus those with a worsening of ≥0.5 SD for each outcome, we observed net improvements of 50% (6/12), 33% (4/12), 25% (3/12), and 25% (3/12) in depression, loneliness, burden, and stress, respectively. In terms of the benefits of participation, participants reported that participation helped them “a great deal” to (1) improve their understanding of LBD (9/12, 75%), (2) gain confidence in dealing with difficult behaviors of the care recipient (6/12, 50%), and (3) improve in one’s abilities to provide care to the care recipient (4/12, 33%).ConclusionsThe study generated promising feasibility and preliminary efficacy data for a low-cost, web-based intervention designed for caregivers of persons with LBD. Though the study was not powered for significance, we observed nominal average and net improvements in important psychological outcomes. Moreover, many caregivers reported that study participation helped them better understand the disease, feel more confident in dealing with difficult behaviors of the care recipient, and improve their ability to care for the care recipient. If validated in future studies, the intervention could be an accessible, on-demand resource for caregivers, enabling them to engage in moderated remote discussions with peers at their own convenience in terms of location, time of the day, and frequency.

A comparison of investment behavior, attitudes, and demographics of socially responsible and conventional investors in India

PurposeIndia is an emerging economy and one of the preferred investment destinations for environmental, social and governance (ESG) fund issuers. Institutional investors invest retail investors’ money, and hence, it becomes imperative for ESG fund managers to understand the social investment preferences of retail investors. This study aims to compare the Indian socially responsible (SR) investors and conventional investors in terms of their socially responsible investment (SRI) awareness level, opinions about broad and specific ESG issues, investment behavior and demographics. In addition, this paper makes an attempt to have a deeper insight into Indian investors’ behavior toward SRI by segmenting the Indian retail investors based on their SRI awareness level, attitude toward ESG issues and intention to accept lower financial returns, and choices made by them as consumers.Design/methodology/approachAfter collecting the data through the survey method an independent t-test is used to compare SR investors with conventional investors. Chi-square has been used to analyze the data related to demographics, and cluster analysis is used to identify segments among Indian retail investors.FindingsThe results indicated that Indian SR investors’ SRI awareness level is more, they are more concerned about broad and specific ESG issues, they are more into faith-based investing, and are responsible consumers vis-à-vis conventional investors. As per demographic, SR investors are in the middle age group of 30–40 years, male, hold a postgraduate degree and have an annual income of 10–20 lakhs in comparison to conventional investors. The results of cluster analysis indicated that Indian retail investors can be classified into three groups based on their SRI awareness, intention to sacrifice financial return, attitude toward ESG issues and choices made by them as consumers.Research limitations/implicationsResults have implications for national and international fund managers, policymakers, regulators and society. These results will help mutual fund companies to provide curated SR mutual funds as per the behavior and choice of retail investors and penetrate the Indian investment market more deeply.Originality/valueThis research study contributes to the literature on SRI by identifying the differentiating characteristics of Indian SR and conventional investors and segmenting Indian retail investors on the basis of their SRI awareness, the importance of ESG issues and choices made by them as investors and consumers.

Quality of the academic research of a postgraduate degree in surgery from a public university in Ecuador

Introduction: The lack of solidity of educational research (ER) in a high percentage and the loss of integrity in the methodology have been reported. The objective of the present study was to determine the quality of the ERs of postgraduate surgery at a public university in Ecuador. We hypothesize that the acceptable theses are equal to 70%. Methods: The present study reviewed the thesis of surgery at the University of Cuenca from January 2010 to November 2019. The probabilistic sample selection was 48 cases. A 51-question EI quality test was used. The values of each variable were homologated as a percentage. A single sample T-test was performed, and bivariate correlations were determined using the Spearman coefficient. Significant values were R> 0.5 and P <0.01. The hypothesis test was performed with Chi square. Results: Of 48 randomized theses, the lowest average was in the “Hypothesis” sections (41.6% [35.3-47.8]), and the highest was in the “Results” sections (93.5% [91.4-95.7]). The relevance was 97.9% (93.7-102.1). 35 theses (72.9%) were rated as “Acceptable”. The Hypothesis and References sections were rated as “Not acceptable” in 70.8% and 79.2%, respectively. The “results” section obtained the rating of “Excellent” in 93.8%. The hypothesis was accepted, and the group had an acceptable quality equal to 70%”, Chi2 = 0.2208, P = 0.64. Conclusion: The quality of educational research is equal to the 70% raised in the hypothesis, which highlights a minimum sufficiency rating for the educational research studied in this work.

Prevalence and characteristics of advocacy curricula in Australian public health degrees.

Public health advocacy is a fundamental part of health promotion practice. Advocacy efforts can lead to healthier public policies and positive impacts on society. Public health educators are responsible for equipping graduates with cross-cutting advocacy competencies to address current and future public health challenges. Knowledge of the extent to which students are taught public health advocacy is limited. To determine whether advocacy teaching within public health degrees matches industry needs, knowledge of pedagogical approaches to advocacy curricula is required. This study sought to understand the extent to which advocacy is taught and assessed within Australian public health degrees. Australian public health Bachelor's and Master's degrees were identified using the CRICOS database. Open-source online unit guides were reviewed to determine where and how advocacy was included within core and elective units (in title, unit description or learning outcomes). Degree directors and convenors of identified units were surveyed to further garner information about advocacy in the curriculum. Of 65 identified degrees, 17 of 26 (65%) undergraduate degrees and 24 of 39 (62%) postgraduate degrees included advocacy within the core curriculum, while 6 of 26 (23%) undergraduate and 8 of 39 (21%) postgraduate offered no advocacy curriculum. Australian and international public health competency frameworks indicate advocacy curriculum should be included in all degrees. This research suggests advocacy competencies are not ubiquitous within Australian public health curricula. The findings support the need to advance public health advocacy teaching efforts further.

Muslim CEOs, risk-taking and firm performance

This study investigates Muslim CEOs' risk-taking and firm performance. Unlike the other Islamic countries, our focus on Malaysia because the public listed firms have well mixture of Muslim and non-Muslim CEOs, in the addition that the CEOs exhibit heterogenous demographic profile in gender, degree of education and foreign educational exposure. We apply balanced panel consisting of 803 firms for 2009–2017. Based on the results of fixed effect panel regression and GMM, we show that Muslim CEO which is represented in a dummy variable positively influences the relationship between risk-taking and firm performance. The result is unchanged using either earnings volatility or z-score as the proxy of risk-taking. Even, with two-stage Heckman sample selection bias approach, we obtain the similar result. In the addition, we show that female Muslim CEOs, postgraduate degree of education, and foreign educational exposure have significant negative moderating effect on the relationship between risk-taking and firm performance. As we observe Muslim CEOs are sensitive to firm performance, their acquired risk-taking style influenced by the religion can be moderated by the feministic characteristic of female that is naturally possess and the developed skills and knowledge via education.

Evaluation of human papillomavirus (HPV) knowledge among healthcare professionals: A study of conference attendees in Angola

ABSTRACT Human papillomavirus (HPV) plays an essential role in cervical cancer development. Angola has a high cervical cancer incidence rate (36.1 per 100,000); therefore, knowledge of HPV among clinicians is essential for the prevention of cervical cancer and educating at-risk individuals. This study aimed to evaluate knowledge of HPV among healthcare professionals in Angola. A 44-item questionnaire was distributed to 65 healthcare professionals who attended a conference on the cancer burden in Angola. Non-parametric and multiple regression analyses were conducted. Of the participants (55.6%) were male, and 33.3% were aged 31–40 years, 56.3% had an undergraduate degree, and 35.9% had a postgraduate degree. All participants worked in healthcare in academic and/or clinical settings, with 36.7% in joint contracts. Most (62.2%) knew that early sexual debut increases the risk of contracting HPV, and HPV vaccines are most effective if administered before sexual debut. However, there was limited knowledge regarding the virus transmission. The mean HPV knowledge score was 11.08 ± 8.76 and knowledge was higher among older healthcare workers (>50 years) with a postgraduate degree and working in a clinical role. Overall, HPV knowledge was limited among the respondents. Policymakers should consider promoting knowledge and targeted public health initiatives among healthcare professionals in Angola.

Las necesidades de formación de las educadoras y los educadores sociales en el ámbito de la infancia y la adolescencia vulnerable

The current role of social education professionals is the result of a long process to de- fine a profession. Historically, this profession has been practised by professionals from different scientific disciplines and with different levels of training, factors which directly influence the processes involved in professional specialization. Undergraduate Social Education programmes have experienced this diversity but continue to face the challenge of developing training itineraries that respond to specific areas of intervention. In this study we identify the training needs of social educators who work with children and vulnerable adolescents. To do so, we conducted a quantitative analysis based on a large sample of professionals working with a wide range of resources. Our results show that professionals express a need for training in issues related to disruptive beha- viours, especially among adolescents, and request that dimensions such as behavioural problems, violence and conflict resolution play an important role in available training programmes. However, undergraduate Social Education programmes are still of a general nature while specific master’s or postgraduate degrees in Social Education remain under development. We detect an emerging need for specialized training in social care for children and vulnerable adolescents. This training should be provided from the professional as well as the university environment.

Enhancing self-perceived employability via a curriculum intervention: a case of “The global marketing professional” module

PurposeDrawing on human capital and sustainable career theory, this paper aims to explore university students' views regarding their self-perceived employability following participation in a mandatory module titled “The Global Marketing Professional”.Design/methodology/approachOverall, 80 students studying a full-time postgraduate master's degree in international marketing management at a northern Russell Group university participated in a two-wave study by completing a questionnaire during Weeks 1 and 9 of the module in the 2021/2022 academic year. Descriptive statistics, paired samples t-tests and quantitative content analysis were subsequently applied to the data set.FindingsStudents' confidence in their self-perceived employability rose from 37.5% to 92.5%. This was supported by the paired samples t-tests’ findings of increases at the item and composite scale levels. The quantitative content analysis found benefits of the module to include increased confidence, interactive classes, skills development, knowledge of the recruitment process, CV development, proactive career ownership, interview guidance and networking. Suggestions for improvement included increasing the amount of lecture time provided, increased accessibility via subtitles and opportunities for real-world experience.Originality/valueThe contribution comes via the advancement of human capital and sustainable career theory by identifying empirically informed strategies for enhancing students' self-perceived employability within the university curriculum. Implications subsequently extend to universities, organisations and national economies.

Human capital and the business cycle effects on the postgraduate wage premium

Postgraduate degree holders experience lower cyclical variation in real wages than those with undergraduate degrees. Moreover, postgraduate jobs require more specific human capital. Using an equilibrium search model with dynamic incentive contracts, this paper attributes the cyclicality of the postgraduate-undergraduate wage gap to the differences in specific capital. Greater specific capital leads to lower mobility, thereby improving risk-sharing between workers and firms. The estimates of the model reveal that specific capital can explain the differences both in labour turnover and in real wage cyclicality between education groups.

Challenges Confronting Postgraduate Supervision at the National University of Lesotho:

Postgraduate supervision can be a challenging form of teaching, with the challenges further compounded by context or institutional-specific factors.The Faculty of Education at the National University of Lesotho has faced numerous challenges in offering postgraduate degrees, with a few qualified supervisors for the large number of students who enroll in these programmes. This study explored the nature of the challenges confronting postgraduate supervision in this context. It was underpinned by the interpretivist paradigm and employed a qualitative approach. Fifteen supervisors participated, of whom nine (three associate professors and six senior lecturers) were individually interviewed. Six junior lecturers took part in a focus group discussion. Guidelines on postgraduate supervision were also subjected to document review. The findings revealed that while some supervisors had positive experiences, others are frustrated. This is due to a lack of training, and lack of clarity on supervisory procedures, as well as the low academic literacy and lack of commitment exhibited by some students. It is recommended that supervisors should be capacitated through training. Furthermore, supervisory guidelines should be reviewed and benchmarked against best practices in the field.
 Key words: Postgraduate supervision, constructivism, reflective practice, supervisory guidelines, challenges in supervisory practice

Nurses’ knowledge of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and its management: a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundChemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN) is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that is associated with high morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. ObjectiveThis study aims to assess nurses’ level of knowledge of CIN and its association with socio-demographic factors. MethodsA cross-sectional survey design was used. Results: Participants had a mean age of 34.1 years (SD = 7.1 years) and were predominantly female (78%) and with a bachelor’s degree in nursing (95.6%). The nurses had a moderate level of knowledge about neutropenia and its management (mean total score 16.3 out of 30, SD = 3.7). Those who had a post-graduate degree (P = .048), had received an oncology educational course (P = .011), had attended a course on neutropenia (P = .007), who were working in an oncology unit (P = .002), and had more oncology experience (P = 001) were more likely to have a higher level of knowledge of CIN and its management compared to their other counterparts. ConclusionBased on the findings of a moderate level of knowledge of CIN among nurses, the findings call for the need for further education and training. As a long-term plan, this might be accomplished by encouraging nurses to pursue post-graduate education or oncology-specialized certification and supporting them with scholarship grants. However, deliberate plans for short courses, training and workshops on oncology or CIN are other choices with a more immediate impact on nurses’ knowledge and clinical practice. Finally, integrating oncology nursing education within nursing curricula is urgently needed.

Physiotherapy lecturers’ perceptions of online curriculum delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey

Purpose To establish UK Physiotherapy lecturers’ perceptions of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods A cross-sectional mixed methods electronic survey of UK higher education lecturers, actively teaching pre-registration undergraduate or postgraduate physiotherapy degrees, was conducted between October 2020 and February 2021. Data was converted into proportions with a 95% confidence interval. Likert scale questions were treated as numeric variables with the mean and standard deviation calculated for combined responses. The thematic analysis reported patterns of data extracted from open-ended questions. Results 96 respondents completed the survey, reporting some positive attributes attached to online learning. 81% (n = 78, 95% CI 72–88) agreed that students developed their digital skills and were able to learn conveniently at their own pace (n = 75, 78%, 95% CI 69–85). However, 62.5% (n = 60, 95% CI 23–72) of respondents felt that students were overall disadvantaged with online learning, with 72% (n = 69, 95% CI 62–80) reporting that online learning was not comparable to face-to-face to teaching. The reasons for perceived student disadvantage were categorised into three themes; 1) a lack of ability in sessions to practice handling techniques, 2) the inability to gauge student understanding and check practical skill competence and 3) the lack of student self-directed practice time. UK physiotherapy lecturers did indicate they would continue to incorporate online learning in the future (n = 84, 87.5%, 95% CI 79–93). Such responses were based on two key themes; an improved work-life balance and the perception that online learning was no more challenging than traditional on-campus delivery. Conclusions UK physiotherapy lecturers reported that students were disadvantaged with online learning delivery compared to face-to-face teaching. Lecturers indicated a willingness to continue with aspects of online learning across the curriculum, despite suggesting it had a negative impact on students subject understanding.

The role of patent waivers and compulsory licensing in facilitating access to COVID-19 vaccines: Findings from a survey among healthcare practitioners in Nigeria.

The roll out of COVID-19 vaccines has again revealed the gap between high income countries and developing nations in terms of access to healthcare commodities and services. With the slow vaccination roll out in many low income countries and the emergence of more contagious variants of COVID-19, many persons are at risk of contracting the disease in settings with low immunisation coverage. This study aimed at exploring the views of healthcare practitioners on the role of patent waivers and compulsory licensing in facilitating access to vaccines. A cross-sectional study was undertaken among practitioners in the health sector, which comprised private, public, and development agencies. A well structured and validated questionnaire was administered to the study participants using both physical and online methods of administration in Nigerian setting. A total of 526 respondents participated in the study, majority of them were males (54.4%). A third of the study participants (31.1%) had postgraduate degrees. A strong majority of the respondents (81.2%) agreed that the role of patent is to promote innovation, whilst 70.6% of them indicated that intellectual property waivers can improve access to COVID-19 vaccines. Slightly above half of the respondents (56.0%) indicated that patent waivers can reduce innovation in the pharmaceutical sector, they however indicated that such challenge can be mitigated by granting incentives to innovators whose intellectual property rights had been waived. This study has revealed that there is a need for intellectual property rights waiver and compulsory licensing of all novel COVID-19 commodities including vaccines, as this is an important strategy that can improve access to relevant products in developing countries.