Postgraduate Programs Research Articles

Sensemaking of wave–particle duality in a scientific outreach minicourse: a study based in self-regulation

Abstract On the Internet, Quantum Mechanics is an area of physics that is shrouded in misinterpretations. In this scenario, scientific outreach may serve as an instrument for disseminating scientific knowledge. Especially in this context, it is important that people’s learning encompasses more than the meanings of concepts and laws, involving aspects related to the ‘why’ and ‘for what purpose’ the knowledge was and is constructed. We consider these aspects as components of the sense, the connotative and subjective dimension of conceptual learning which encompasses a positioning of an individual towards a concept and its relevance in the physics framework. Motivated by this, in the present study, we investigated the senses ascribed to the concept of wave–particle duality (WPD) by 121 participants in a two-day (five-hour) science outreach minicourse in the double-slit experiment. Drawing on the ideas of Franco et al (2023, Cadernos de Pesquisa do Programa de Pós-graduação em Ensino de Física da UFRGS (Research Notebooks from the Postgraduate Program in Physics Teaching at UFRGS), Pimenta Cultural Editors S/A), we posit sensemaking as a type of cognitive effort to overcome a situation, viewed as a self-regulatory phenomenon wherein individuals self-observe, self-evaluate, and self-react to the situation to achieve a certain goal. In addition to identifying the senses attributed to the concept of WPD, we assessed the relationships between these senses and participants’ performance in a standardized test of this concept, as well as their educational background and field of study. Data were collected using questionnaires answered before and at the end of the course. The senses ascribed to the concept of WPD were investigated through similarity and cluster analysis based on responses to essay questions. The relationships among these senses, questionnaire performance, and educational background were evaluated using non-parametric statistical tests. We infer two senses attributed to wave–particle duality: (1) WPD is a basic and fundamental concept that impacts the way we comprehend the essence of nature, and (2) WPD is a very advanced concept restricted to the field of Quantum Mechanics. A statistically significant correlation (0.26 was identified between the senses attributed and participants’ performance on the standardized test, suggesting that the sense ascribed to a concept and performance in questions requiring its mobilization are overlapping elements but constitute two distinct dimensions of learning that need to be assessed simultaneously.

Addressing barriers to post-graduate research training in low resource settings: an innovative approach in an institution of higher learning in Kenya

BackgroundNumerous barriers hinder health research training in Post-Graduate Medical Education Programs, especially in developing countries. Research training is pivotal for medical residency, providing essential knowledge and skills for dissertation completion, fostering evidence-based medical practice, and nurturing future independent clinical researchers. A holistic approach to research education is imperative to surmount these barriers. We describe here a dissertation-centric research curriculum, delivered longitudinally, an innovative strategy undertaken by Aga Khan University's Medical College in East Africa (AKU-MCEA) to deliver postgraduate research.MethodsA review of AKU-MCEA post-graduate research methods curriculum was conducted based on implementing Departments' experience, institutional policies, and residency program output.Program implementationThe Master of Medicine program requires a well-executed dissertation for graduation. Residents undergo structured research training across four modules, with interactive sessions and workshops supporting their research milestones. Protected time allows residents to develop and report on their dissertation work. Faculty receive specialized training in dissertation supervision to ensure residents benefit from expert guidance in producing high-quality research.OutcomesThis approach achieves a dissertation completion and graduation rate of 98–100%. Notably, 68.5% (n = 126) of those who graduated in 2013–2023 have published two or more papers (i.e., range 2–36) in their current portfolio, demonstrating a commitment to ongoing research endeavors even after graduation. Residents' research covers diverse themes and is disseminated through departmental presentations, university-wide Faculty Academic Rounds, peer-reviewed journals, conferences, and the Annual Early Career Researchers symposium.Lessons learntA comprehensive approach featuring a structured research curriculum, longitudinal delivery with predetermined milestones, dedicated supervision, financial and resource support, protected research time, ongoing faculty development in dissertation supervision, and clear institutional research policies accelerates dissertation completion and enhances effective research dissemination.

The European Rare Kidney Disease Reference Network

Rare kidney diseases encompass awide range of congenital, inherited and acquired conditions. Two million Europeans are affected by rare kidney diseases. The European Rare Kidney Disease Reference Network (ERKNet) aims to improve the clinical management of patients with these diseases. ERKNet encompasses 95highly specialized adult and pediatric nephrology units at 72sites in 24European Union (EU) member states, as well as agroup of patient advocates (European Patient Advocacy Group, ePAG). ERKNet centers care for more than 65,000 rare kidney disease patients and pursues avariety of activities. An online consultation service helps improve the management of complex cases. Expert working groups develop clinical practice guidelines for individual groups of rare kidney diseases. In a3-year postgraduate program, junior physicians at ERKNet centers are trained by experts in the diagnosis and treatment of rare kidney diseases through webinars and case-based eLearning modules. Information brochures and online texts on rare kidney diseases for patients, relatives and the general public are produced and disseminated. Clinical research is supported by aEuropean Registry for Rare Kidney Diseases (ERKReg), which provides important information on demographics and disease progression and facilitates the identification of patient cohorts for therapeutic studies. In addition, the registry provides clinical performance statistics of reference centers and allows benchmarking to promote the harmonization and standardization of care for rare kidney disease patients across Europe.

Advanced practice nursing in surgery: A scoping review of roles, responsibilities, and educational programs.

The increasing complexity of the healthcare sector requires an evolution in nursing education to effectively manage care in complex and interdisciplinary contexts. This review aims to analyze the role of advanced practice nurse (APN) in the surgical context within hospital settings, detailing their functions and responsibilities. It also provides an overview of the main degrees and postgraduate training programs for specialization in perioperative management in major Western countries. This scoping review followed the Arksey-O'Malley framework and Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) was used to ensure rigorous and transparent reporting. Among the 3663 records analyzed, 20 were included in this review. The role of the APN spans across the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases, encompassing follow-up care as leaders, mentors, and contributors to research. APNs play a pivotal role by offering direct and indirect patient care at each stage of the surgical journey. Acting as liaisons between the healthcare team and patients, APNs enhance healthcare delivery through personalized, coordinated care, while also fostering ongoing education and research in the field. APNs enhance surgical care by providing in-depth clinical assessments, education, and support throughout the treatment process. However, the lack of standardized regulatory frameworks in some countries limits the autonomy of APNs within the healthcare system, compromising their ability to address unmet health needs and engage in international collaboration. The findings underscore the need for standardized educational pathways, roles, responsibilities, and autonomy for APNs, facilitating better international collaboration and contributing to scientific research.

Orthodontic-orthognathic combined case management in postgraduate orthodontic and oral maxillofacial surgery programs.

With the development of three-dimensional (3D) image, the 3D virtual surgical planning (VSP) system has been broadly used in the treatment planning of orthodontic-orthognathic cases. This study aimed to understand the current education status regarding the use of orthodontic-orthognathic surgical planning tools in the postgraduate orthodontic and oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) programs in North America. An electronic multiple-choice survey was sent via email with 2-week and 1-month follow-ups, requesting anonymous participation of program directors/department chairs from all postgraduate orthodontic and OMFS programs in North America. Responses were collected directly on Qualtrics for analysis. The response rate was 25.68% for orthodontic and 34.34% for OMFS programs. Two-dimensional traditional surgical planning (TSP) at initial treatment planning and 3D VSP right before surgery were most commonly utilized in both specialty programs. All responded postgraduate OMFS programs utilized VSP, yet 26.32% of responded orthodontic programs did not utilize VSP. For the surgical outcomes, fewer orthodontic programs were highly satisfied than OMFS programs. More orthodontic programs warranted secondary surgery at a higher rate due to the unsatisfied outcome. Additionally, the orthodontic programs that did not use VSP showed higher unsatisfied surgical outcomes than the programs that used VSP. Moreover, there were discrepancies between orthodontic and OMFS programs regarding the perceived level of collaboration of each other on the surgical planning for the patients. There were discrepancies between orthodontic and OMFS programs regarding the utilization of VSP, treatment outcomes satisfaction, and perceived level of collaboration on surgical planning for the patients.

ECO_CARE Fieldtrip on the Rio Negro (municipality of Novo Airão, Comunidade Tiririca) and academic collaboration with indigenous women, traditional people and Master’s students

This report summarises the activities undertaken by the ECOCARE team during the week of November 3 to November 4, focusing on fieldwork on the Rio Negro, specifically in the municipality of Novo Airão and the Comunidade Tiririca. Additionally, the team organised a meeting with the indigenous women of the Amarn organization and an academic activity on storytelling and emotional literacy with the Master’s students of the Postgraduate Program in Law at the UFAM, emphasizing a hands-on approach to learning and mutual exchange of knowledge.The activities were part of a broader initiative to foster meaningful partnerships and enhance educational opportunities through direct interaction with indigenous communities and academic partners. This initiative aligns with our ongoing commitment to support indigenous scholarship and integrate it within academic frameworks, thereby enriching the educational experiences of all participants.

Student perspectives on learning transfer from online postgraduate sonography courses to traineeships: A pilot survey

AbstractIntroductionThis survey aims to understand how postgraduate sonography students perceive to apply knowledge from online coursework to traineeships. It also explores the impact of students' age, gender, traineeship duration and geographic location on learning transfer. The ability to apply learnt knowledge is a key factor for student success in higher education and the workplace, yet it is an under‐researched topic.MethodThe Human Research Ethics Committee of an Australian university granted ethical approval. A pilot online survey was sent to 279 medical sonography students enrolled in an online postgraduate program. These students had an industry traineeship as a corequisite to online coursework. The survey was sent via email on Microsoft Forms from October to December 2023. Descriptive, Likert scale and free‐text data were analysed using Microsoft Excel, IBM SPSS Statistics (version 29) and Lumivero NVivo (version 14).ResultsThe response rate was 38% (n = 106). Most respondents agreed that they developed transfer skills from online courses. Practice questions, lectures and interactive sessions emerged as the key online learning activities that helped to facilitate knowledge transfer. With summative assessments, case studies enhanced knowledge transfer. No significant difference was seen in the transfer ability based on geographical location, age and gender.ConclusionIt is challenging for online educators to foster transfer skills to prepare safe, competent, job‐ready graduates. Our study has provided initial insights on enablers of online learning transfer to online educators on students' perspectives of how they see the relevance and how they apply knowledge from online courses to traineeships.

Animal Protection in Brazil: Legislative and the Society Evolvement in the Last Century

The aim of this review was to analyze Brazilian animal protection policy throughout history and discuss the importance of some recent events and societal developments in its modernisation. A search for the complete legislation and scientific works was performed on the government’s website and search platforms (Google scholar, Science direct and CAPES). It was observed that the first Brazilian law on animal protection was published in 1924. After this, several amendments were incorporated. The current Brazilian Constitution, published in 1988, was a landmark in the modernisation of animal protection in the country as it allowed the recognition of sentience and thus characterised cruelty and mistreatment of animals as crimes. At the same time, society has evolved, increasing the proximity with animals until the recent development of the concept of the multi-species family positioning animals as family members. Recent reports have shown that animal abuse and cruelty can still occur and the application of the animal protection policy is allowing pursuits and condemnation of offenders. Brazil is a young country but its policy on animal protection and its society greatly evolved in the last century. This progress is still ongoing as the society is taking an active role to push improvements on public policies and surveillance towards animal mistreatments. However, it would be advisable to include the real needs of animals in the reflections in order to avoid making decisions that are erroneously harmful to animals. This work was a collaboration between the post-graduation program of the Veterinary school of the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco – Brazil and The National school of veterinary of Alfort - France, from January to August 2024.

The impact of an online gamified virtual tour on cognitive enhancement in dental practice management

Dental practice management is usually a mandatory course for both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. However, learners and educators may encounter challenges in gaining experiences in real-life dental practice. The concept of a gamified virtual tour could have potential to improve dental practice management skills. A quasi-experimental study was conducted to evaluate the educational impact of a gamified virtual dental clinic (GVDC) on dental practice management skills among dental undergraduates (UG) and postgraduates (PG). All participants were assigned to complete the GVDC. Pre- and post-knowledge assessments were administered to evaluate knowledge acquisition. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to investigate user perceptions toward the use of GVDC. There were 20 dental undergraduates and 20 orthodontic residents participating in UG and PG groups, respectively. Both groups demonstrated statistically significant increases in their assessment scores after completing the GVDC (P < 0.001). Although the pre-knowledge assessment score of the PG group was notably higher than that of the UG group (P = 0.041), there was no statistically significant difference in their post-knowledge assessment score (P = 0.491). Participants had positive perceptions of GVDC in terms of usefulness, ease of use, and enjoyment, with no statistically significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). Overall, the GVDC demonstrated positive educational impacts on acquiring knowledge and understanding of dental practice management, with participants expressing favorable perceptions of this immersive learning intervention.

Stained glass ceilings: Gender and race in accounting academia in Brazil

AbstractBrazil is divided into five large regions marked by profound economic and social inequalities. Such vast differences can make people feel like “foreigners”, even though they live in the same country. Here, meritocracy is seen as the criterion for assessing and promoting people, which is conflicting given the absurdly unequal contexts in the country. This choice widens inequalities of gender, race and, above all, social class. Between 2000 and 2018, Brazil experienced profound social transformations. Female participation in the labor market grew, although there were still barriers to access and professional advancement for women, which were exacerbated in the case of black women. When it came to leadership positions, they were almost always blocked by processes which depended on subjective decisions from evaluators. These circumstances occur through daily confrontations with processes of sexualisation and racialisation. These transformations were followed in the most recent period by clear setbacks, deepened by the COVID‐19 pandemic and intense political polarization. A milestone in terms of Esperançar, a verb proposed by Paulo Freire (1992), were the 2022 presidential elections, understood as a process of re‐democratisation. The social achievements that have been maintained, however, are ‘advances’ that work differently when the diversity of the population and regional differences are taken into account. With this particular context in mind, the aim of this study is to investigate how the “glass ceiling” phenomenon has been present in the daily interactions and academic trajectory of black women in the accounting field. The question that underpinned this study was: how can the academic accounting environment, considering practice and discourse, boost or hinder the “glass ceiling” phenomenon in the professional career of black female academics? This is a qualitative study with a post‐structuralist approach, based on the adoption of auto‐ethnographic and oral history techniques. The evidence was built up through semi‐structured, in‐depth interviews with female academics who had graduated from postgraduate programmes. This corpus was analyzed from an interpretivist perspective and the findings reveal that the “glass ceiling” phenomenon is present in accounting academia in Brazil and is expressed in barriers specific to the field. Barriers are erected in processes of closure, blocking the path of black women who aim to succeed in prestigious academic spaces, regardless of their level of qualification. In this way, they are conceptualized as “stained glass ceilings”, because the barriers become visible and concrete in a country where racism is a structuring element of social relations.

Protocol for leading health services innovation: a hybrid type 2 mixed method implementation trial for developing and assessing a codesigned graduate certificate program in health innovation

BackgroundA significant issue with innovative problem-solving in healthcare is an existing deficiency in continuing education for many healthcare professionals, which hinders the successful implementation of inventive solutions and progress in the field. Educators play a crucial role in guiding students to cultivate the knowledge and skills necessary to confront these challenges, including problem solving, collaboration, and the use of rapidly advancing technologies. It is vital to design educational programs that empower and motivate students to develop the proficiency and knowledge they need to be effective problem solvers, collaborators, and cultivators of innovative solutions. This project aims to assess the implementation and effectiveness of a codesigned postgraduate university program for a multidisciplinary health workforce.MethodsThe Leading Health Services Innovation Project is a hybrid type 2 mixed method implementation trial of a codesigned Graduate Certificate in Health Services Innovation. In collaboration with a large tertiary and quaternary health service, we developed a codesign process to guide the project, with time quarantined to create space for two-way learning between health sector partners and healthcare academics. Qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys for primary users will evaluate the implementation strategies. The reach, effectiveness, adoption implementation, and maintenance (RE-AIM) framework will guide the evaluation and maintenance of the program.ResultsIntegrating a codesign strategy complemented by a well-structured implementation and evaluation protocol that is a combination of implementation science theoretical frameworks (Knowledge to Action, Evidence-Based Co-design, RE-AIM) may lead to translational competence as a potential outcome.Anticipated outcomesThe application, resourcing and commitment to codesigned tertiary-level learning and qualification will demonstrate the achievement of a contemporary and comprehensive postgraduate university degree program in health innovation management.

Коммуникативные аспекты педагогического взаимодействия научных руководителей с аспирантами и адъюнктами

Introduction. Communicative strategies of pedagogical interaction of scientific supervisors with graduate students and adjuncts are important for the successful training of scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel. The identification of the most difficult points of scientific leadership will contribute to improving the quality of training for applicants for scientific degrees. The purpose of the study is to identify the opinions of scientific supervisors on the organization of pedagogical interaction in the conditions of postgraduate and adjunct studies. Methods and materials. A study was conducted to identify the opinion of scientific supervisors on the organization of pedagogical interaction with students. In the survey took part 52 doctors and candidates of (military, technical, pedagogical, medical, economic, legal, chemical, biological, etc.) sciences of four universities in Ryazan, who train highly qualified personnel in postgraduate and adjunct programs. The results of the study. The novelty of the conducted research lies in the identification and analysis of the opinions and assessments of scientific supervisors characterizing the communicative strategies of pedagogical interaction. The theoretical significance lies in enriching the methodology and technology of vocational education in terms of improving the work of scientific supervisors in graduate and adjunct studies. The practical significance lies in the possibility of using the research results to improve the quality of training of scientific supervisors at a modern university. The prospects for further research lie in the scientific justification of ways to improve the effectiveness of scientific leadership in civil and military universities.

Improving the quality of postgraduate training in educational science and teacher training in Viet Nam

Introduction. Higher education plays a pivotal role in addressing the demands of socio-economic development and aligning with the needs of the labor market. To achieve this strategic objective, higher education institutions in Vietnam are redefining their pedagogical approaches, curriculum frameworks, and professional development initiatives. In response, some universities in the Mekong Delta region have introduced more postgraduate training programs in educational science and teacher training. However, these initiatives face challenges that impede their effectiveness. A significant gap exists between actual needs and the prevailing conditions necessary to ensure the quality of these training programs. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of quality assurance measures in these programs and highlight key areas for improvement to better align with contemporary educational standards. Materials and Methods. This research employs a convenience sample consisting of 235 participants, comprising managers such as presidents, vice presidents, principals, vice principals, deans, vice deans, and department heads, as well as lecturers from 8 universities offering educational science and teacher training programs in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. Notably, approximately 45% of the participants are female. Furthermore, nearly all participants, both managers and lecturers, hold doctoral degrees. Participants completed a comprehensive survey assessing various aspects of postgraduate training. The assessment used a Likert scale with 38 observed variables to quantify perceptions of quality across different facets of the educational experience. Results. Our result showed that there are 8 universities offer programs in educational sciences and teacher training. Postgraduate programs: 19 master's majors across 4 universities and only 4 doctoral majors across 3 universities; Teaching staff: the region has 2 professors, 39 associate professors, and 217 PhDs involved in training. Despite these efforts, challenges remain due to the limited number of postgraduate programs available. Evaluation of postgraduate training quality in the Mekong Delta region highlights areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. Key findings from 136 lecturers and 99 managers include: a) quality of teaching staff: average rating around 2.8 to 2.9, indicating room for improvement; b) research capacity: average rating around 2.7 to 2.8, highlighting the need for enhanced research initiatives; c) facilities and resources: rated positively with averages around 3.5 to 3.6; e) areas of concern: collaboration on scientific research and document compilation received lower ratings (2.2 to 2.4), indicating immediate need for improvement. Conclusion. The study underscores the necessity for continuous development in postgraduate training programs within the Mekong Delta's educational institutions, Vietnam. It recommends the adoption of integrated strategies that encompass upgrading faculty skills, revising curricula to include contemporary educational needs, and bolstering infrastructural and administrative support to foster a conducive learning environment. These enhancements are vital for preparing educators who are capable of navigating the complexities of modern educational demands and contributing effectively to the region's educational advancements.

Burnout among emergency and surgery residents: An exploration of contributing factors and implications.

To assess the prevalence of burnout among emergency and surgical residents and explore the associated factors. This study was carried out at King Faisal University, Al Hofuf, Saudi Arabia, through the period from January to march 2024. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, utilizing the Maslach burnout inventory-human services survey and the resilience scale-14 to measure burnout and resilience. The survey included demographic information, health-related questions, and specific burnout-related items. Descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, and inferential analyses were carried out to explore the relationships between burnout, demographic factors, and resilience. The study revealed a diverse representation across demographic factors, with variations in burnout prevalence. Approximately 63% of participants reported experiencing burnout, with high levels of emotional exhaustion (55%) and depersonalization (28%). Resilience levels varied across different demographic characteristics. Significant associations were found between burnout and factors such as gender, marital status, having children, specialty, length of experience, and enrollment in postgraduate programs. The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to address burnout in healthcare professionals. The nuanced relationships between burnout, resilience, and demographic factors highlight the importance of tailored strategies to mitigate burnout effectively. Addressing burnout is crucial not only for the well-being of healthcare professionals but also for maintaining high-quality patient care.

Not in the file: How competency committees work with undocumented contributions.

Competence committees (CCs) centre their work around documentation of trainees' performance; undocumented contributions (i.e. informal, unrecorded material like personal judgements, experiential anecdotes and contextual information) evoke suspicion even though they may play a role in decision making. This qualitative multiple case study incorporates insights from a social practice perspective on writing to examine the use of undocumented contributions by the CCs of two large post-graduate training programmes, one in a more procedural (MP) speciality and the other in a less procedural (LP) one. Data were collected via observations of meetings and semi-structured interviews with CC members. In the analysis, conversations were organised into triptychs of lead-up, undocumented contribution(s), and follow-up. We then created thick descriptions around the undocumented contributions, drawing on conversational context and interview data to assign possible motivations and significance. We found no instances in which undocumented contributions superseded the contents of a trainee's file or stood in for missing documentation. The number of undocumented contributions varied between the MP CC (six instances over two meetings) and the LP CC (22 instances over three meetings). MP CC discussions emphasised Entrustable Professional Activity (EPA) observations, whereas LP CC members paid more attention to narrative data. The divergent orientations of the CCs-adding an 'advis[ing]/guid[ing]' role versus focusing simply on evaluation-offers the most compelling explanation. In lead-ups, undocumented contributions were prompted by missing and flawed documentation, conflicting evidence and documentation at odds with members' perceptions. Recognising other 'red flags' in documentation often required professional experience. In follow-ups, purposes served by undocumented contributions varied with context and were difficult to generalise; we, therefore, provide deeper analysis of two vignettes to illustrate. Our data suggest undocumented contributions often serve best efforts to ground decisions in documentation. We would encourage CC practices and policies be rooted in more nuanced approaches to documentation.

Transforming the Future of Digital Health Education: Redesign of a Graduate Program Using Competency Mapping.

Digital transformation has disrupted many industries but is yet to revolutionize health care. Educational programs must be aligned with the reality that goes beyond developing individuals in their own professions, professionals wishing to make an impact in digital health will need a multidisciplinary understanding of how business models, organizational processes, stakeholder relationships, and workforce dynamics across the health care ecosystem may be disrupted by digital health technology. This paper describes the redesign of an existing postgraduate program, ensuring that core digital health content is relevant, pedagogically sound, and evidence-based, and that the program provides learning and practical application of concepts of the digital transformation of health. Existing subjects were mapped to the American Medical Informatics Association Clinical Informatics Core Competencies, followed by consultation with leadership to further identify gaps or opportunities to revise the course structure. New additions of core and elective subjects were proposed to align with the competencies. Suitable electives were chosen based on stakeholder feedback and a review of subjects in fields relevant to digital transformation of health. The program was revised with a new title, course overview, course intended learning outcomes, reorganizing of core subjects, and approval of new electives, adding to a suite of professional development offerings and forming a structured pathway to further qualification. Programs in digital health must move beyond purely informatics-based competencies toward enabling transformational change. Postgraduate program development in this field is possible within a short time frame with the use of established competency frameworks and expert and student consultation.

Active education for reducing the attainment gap in a public health course in the United Kingdom (UK)

Abstract Background A diverse cohort of students join our UK postgraduate public health programme. We wanted to reduce attainment gaps between students. Active and inclusive educational activities may be important mechanisms for reducing attainment gaps as well as promoting student wellbeing. Our aim was to explore how active and inclusive curriculum design could support development of public health functions (e.g., designing interventions to address health inequalities) whilst reducing attainment gaps. Objectives Our 12-week module included a project to model determinants of adolescent’s health inequalities and design an evidence-based intervention to address determinants. Informed by Fink’s taxonomy and the assessment for learning framework, we designed educational activities (i.e., small group work and presentations, ethnographic visits, discussions with stakeholders) and assessments (i.e., group poster presentation and individual critical reflection) to structure the project. We assessed attainment gaps in student marks and surveyed student attitudes to the project (1 = strongly disagree; 5 = strongly agree). Results 53 students (9 groups) completed the assessment with the following marks: poster (M = 61, SD = 7), critical reflection (M = 59, SD = 9), overall mark (M = 59, SD = 10). More students received ‘fails’ and ‘distinctions’ when only the critical reflection was considered (p &amp;lt; 0.001). Students (N = 39; 72% response rate) agreed that activities were intellectually stimulating (M = 5, SD = 0.8), supported their learning (M = 4, SD = 0.8) and made them feel included (M = 5, SD = 0.7). Active learning approach (i.e., benefits of interactions; creating effective groups); student’s caring and commitment; choice and inclusivity; complex and authentic tasks; informal, formal and timely feedback were highlighted. Conclusions Evidence that an active and inclusive approach functions to reduce attainment gaps is equivocal but appears to promote engagement, inclusion and learning. Key messages • Active learning strategies combined with authentic and flexible tasks and rich in feedback stimulate student’s interactions, inclusivity, and learning with potential for reducing attainment gaps. • Active and authentic education requires educators to work on how to properly implement these strategies.

Examining self-efficacy among recent graduates of postgraduate dental education programs.

To examine the perceived self-efficacy of dentists who recently completed Graduate Dental Education (GDE) programs and identify how closely it aligns with their supervisors' assessments of them. Self-efficacy has been associated with academic pursuits, motivation, and engagement, which may affect how dental providers practice, seek continuing education, and pursue future opportunities. METHODS: Recent graduates of military GDE programs rated their self-efficacy on specific tasks within each of the seven domains of dental competencies. Their supervisors completed a similar survey, rating the graduate's performance in the same tasks. Graduates' mean ratings were calculated for each domain, spearman correlations were calculated for all graduate-supervisor task ratings, and the magnitude of differences between graduate and supervisor domain means were examined. Graduates' perceived self-efficacy ranged from 3.57 to 4.41 out of 5.0. Correlations for each task were universally weak (ρ = -0.04-0.27). Correlations for domain means were also weak (ρ = 0.06-0.14). Overall, graduates rated themselves lower than their supervisors, with mean differences ranging from -0.17 (p=0.003, Cohen's d=0.20) for Professionalism to -0.95 (p<0.001, Cohen's d=0.90) for Health Promotion. Overall, graduates' perceived self-efficacy was moderate to high for 26 tasks across seven domains. However, in aggregate, graduates underestimated their abilities compared to performance measures from their current supervisors, although effect sizes were small. The accuracy of graduates' self-efficacy varied by program length and the clinical specialty of their supervisors. High-performing graduates always underestimated themselves while low-performing graduates often overestimated themselves.

A survey to analyze the need of genetic counseling among doctors in Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan with a population of approximately 200 million people faces a significant burden of genetic disorders. Higher preference for consanguinity (73%) is one of the significant reasons. Despite being a hub for rare genetic disorders, the country lacks professionally trained genetic counselors due to the absence of postgraduate degree programs or diplomas in genetic counseling. This shortage of specialized personnel results in inadequate and limited genetic counseling practices nationwide. This study aimed to highlight the urgent need for genetic counseling in Pakistan, focusing on the gaps within both society and the healthcare infrastructure. A survey-based study involving n = 101 participants was conducted to assess the demand for genetic counseling among medical professionals in Lahore, Pakistan. The study targeted five categories of medical specialists-gynecologists, oncologists, psychiatrists, pediatricians, and ultrasonologists-working in both private and public healthcare settings in Lahore. The survey included a questionnaire covering demographic information, 10 general questions, and a case study with follow-up questions. The survey was conducted both online and through in-person visits. Our findings reveal a significant lack of awareness among healthcare providers, with 91.1% of respondents unaware of any genetic counseling services or genetic counselors in Lahore. The research underscores the crucial role of genetic counselors, with the vast majority (99%) of specialists expressing an urgent need for their presence in Pakistan's healthcare system. This study highlights that only qualified genetic counselors can effectively address genetic issues. Furthermore, it advocates for the introduction of specialized professional training programs to address this pressing need in the country.

Strengthening the Human Rights Guarantee System in the Management of Migrant Policies in Brazil

Objective: This study aimed to conduct a bibliographic survey of scientific productions that deal with migration governance throughout the national territory. Theoretical Framework: Supported by the theoretical and methodological assumptions of dialectical historical materialism, this article is part of the results of a post-doctoral internship that discusses the strengthening and defense of the rights of migrants in Brazil. Method: As a procedure for collecting this data, a time frame of research from the last ten years (2014-2024) was used. For this purpose, a survey of scientific production in Brazilian postgraduate programs indexed in the BDTD (Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations) was carried out. The analysis, in turn, was based on the ten dimensions of migration governance, developed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) adapted to the Brazilian context. Results and Discussion: The results revealed that although there is an effort by municipalities and states to try to strengthen the guarantee of rights to migrants, there are still gaps and difficulties in ensuring them. There is fragmentation in the provision of services to migrants and difficulties for sectoral policies to carry out integrated and cross-cutting actions. Few studies discuss the institutional structure of migration governance, that is, the strategic organization of public policies in order to strengthen the guarantee of the rights of migrants. Research Implications: The importance of this study lies in organizing and producing materials to support professionals who work to promote the human rights of migrants in the country. Originality/Value: Considering that the management of migration and migrant policies is still under construction, this research contributes to thinking about ways to ensure the rights of migrants through effective migration governance.