Professional Practice Research Articles

Professionalism lapses in health professions training: Navigating the 'Yellow Card' moments for transformative learning.

Health professions training programmes face increasing reports of professionalism lapses, which can delay, or end, trainee progression. How programmes respond to professionalism lapses to facilitate professional identity development has not been clarified. The objective of this study is to identify factors that facilitate and impair transformations around professionalism lapses in health professions training programmes. We conducted a qualitative study interviewing 5 faculty and 20 trainees with firsthand or secondhand experience with professionalism lapses from a range of health professions training programmes at McMaster University. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we coded verbatim transcripts informed by the lenses of social and transformative learning theories. We constructed themes through iterative and comparative analysis, seeking meaningful variation across professions and triangulating faculty and trainee perspectives. Four themes were constructed. First, lapses are in the eye of the beholder with personal definitions intersecting with institutional and situation norms. Difficulties exist in recognising and convincing trainees to respond to lapses that are perceived to be minor or subject to interpretation. Second, responses to professionalism lapses occurred within power hierarchies, which impacted how trainees reacted to the remediation process, risked superficial trainee responses to concerns and led to concerns around inequitable treatment in how standards were applied. Third, fostering transformation involves building trainee confidence, agency, trust and engagement. Focused support and advocacy for trainees can empower and promote agency in tackling disorienting lapses. Fourth, perspective shifts involve deep engagement over time, including but not limited to self-reflection, structured discussion and seeking support. Identifying and addressing professionalism lapses is complex and requires nuanced and contextual exploration of personal, institutional and situational dynamics at play. By fostering environments that promote genuine reflection and dialogue and focus on building trainee confidence, agency, trust and engagement, health professions training programmes can better support trainees in navigating these complex situations and contribute to the broader goal of socialising to a professional culture and practice.

Conceptual Considerations for Understanding Resilience in Healthcare Students.

Increasing attention has been given to the concept resilience in the context of healthcare especially during and post the COVID pandemic. Much of the inquiry and evidence reported has focused on promoting or enhancing resilience in healthcare for improving the quality of care and reducing medical negligence. This discursive paper aims to highlight how resilience is conceptualised and identify any potential limitations or gaps in the context of healthcare students, acknowledging considerations for further development and research into this topic. This discursive discussion draws on relevant theoretical underpinnings from the fields of adjustment and coping psychology, and research and evidence from health sciences, for facilitating an understanding of resilience in supporting healthcare students to adapt into professional practice. Investigation of resilience in healthcare students is mainly identified at an individual level as personal traits or skills for working within complex healthcare systems and clinical environments. Less attention has been given to examining resilience at the organisation or systemic level. This is primarily because of limited frameworks for investigating resilience from a multidimensional perspective recognising a wider systemic level influenced by external factors including socioecological determinants, for example, available support services for healthcare students. The link between resilience and its function to mitigate against associated neuropsychological distress and subsequent pathopsychological disorders in healthcare student cohorts is recognised; however, greater understanding of resilience as a multidimensional construct is warranted. A multidimensional investigation of resilience is critical for the preparation and readiness of healthcare structures and organisations in facilitating the needs of healthcare students entering challenging and diverse healthcare working environments. No patient or public contribution.

Therapy in turmoil: Russian psychotherapists navigate war and ethics

This ethnographic study explores how Russian psychotherapists are navigating professional ethics and politics after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Analysing a conversation between an instructor and students at a psychotherapy training centre in Russia, the study examines how therapists negotiate neutrality, values and therapeutic approaches in a shifting sociopolitical landscape. The author identifies four approaches to delineating the boundaries between professional practice and political engagement and explores how the boundaries between therapeutic and political realms are constantly negotiated through social interaction. These processes highlight tensions within Russian therapeutic culture and offer insights into professional subjectivity formation amid political turmoil, revealing the complex interplay between individual subjectivity, professional identity and sociopolitical structures in contemporary societies. The research contributes to anthropological understandings of professional communities as mediators between individuals and states. The study also shows how cultural norms adapt to political pressures and illuminates the role of therapeutic practices in shaping societal responses to political events in authoritarian settings.

Construction and validation of an instrument to identify barriers to implementing pharmaceutical care

BackgroundPharmaceutical Care is a professional practice in high demand for implementation in Primary Health Care within the Public Health System. Consequently, it was necessary to develop and validate an instrument to assess the obstacles to this process. MethodsA methodological study was conducted in three stages: first, the questionnaire was developed based on the APOTECA framework, which includes Attitudinal, Political, Technical, and Administrative domains. Second, the content was validated using the Delphi Technique, with a content validity coefficient greater than or equal to 0.8 considered acceptable. Third, a pre-test was conducted with pharmacists working in Primary Health Care within the Public Health System. After validation, the instrument was administered to pharmacists participating in a training and support project for the implementation of Pharmaceutical Care. ResultsThe results indicated that the instrument was validated after two rounds of evaluation, with the first round involving 33 experts achieving a total content validity coefficient of 96 %, and the second round involving 18 experts achieving a total content validity coefficient of 98 %. In the third stage, the pre-test with Primary Health Care pharmacists resulted in a total content validity coefficient of 91 %. The final version of the questionnaire, which incorporated suggestions for improvements, included 19 questions. When answered by pharmacists, the responses indicated that Technical questions were the most significant barrier to implementation, followed by Political, Attitudinal, and Administrative questions. ConclusionThe validation of this instrument provides an important tool for identifying factors that hinder the implementation of Pharmaceutical Care within the Public Health System.

Solidarity is not a dirty word: exploring and locating solidarity as a theory and model for a radical community social work practice

Within this article we highlight that social work is both a political as well as a professional practice. Despite years of technical specialisation and a policy context that has focused social work on risk management and resource allocation, there remains a deep commitment to care, compassion, and solidarity within contemporary social work practice. The article and its analysis make the case for a more politically informed social work practice, one that is based on solidarity; in opposition to a system that isolates individuals and internalises complex social problems. We posit that the application of solidarity within social work delivers a practice that promotes social inclusion and is based on the provision of practical social support. It is from this perspective that we will present evidence from ethnographic research, drawn from community social work practice, to highlight the importance of social solidarity and provide an insight into different ways of working.

The lived experience of illness: key concepts in diabetes

Understanding the lived experience of the disease enables caregivers to offer people living with diabetes personalized support tailored to their needs. The discipline of nursing also enables them to draw on reference authors to guide their thinking and professional practice. Through the concepts of transition, integration of self-care, diabetes distress and empowerment, we explore certain aspects of living with diabetes.

What are the mechanisms of effect of group antenatal care? A systematic realist review and synthesis of the literature

BackgroundThere is growing interest in the benefits of group models of antenatal care. Although clinical reviews exist, there have been few reviews that focus on the mechanisms of effect of this model.MethodsWe conducted a realist review using a systematic approach incorporating all data types (including non-research and audiovisual media), with synthesis along Context-Intervention-Mechanism-Outcome (CIMO) configurations.ResultsA wide range of sources were identified, yielding 100 relevant sources in total (89 written and 11 audiovisual). Overall, there was no clear pattern of ‘what works for whom, in what circumstances’ although some studies have identified clinical benefits for those with more vulnerability or who are typically underserved by standard care. Findings revealed six interlinking mechanisms, including: social support, peer learning, active participation in health, health education and satisfaction or engagement with care. A further, relatively under-developed theory related to impact on professional practice. An overarching mechanism of empowerment featured across most studies but there was variation in how this was collectively or individually conceptualised and applied.ConclusionsMechanisms of effect are amplified in contexts where inequalities in access and delivery of care exist, but poor reporting of populations and contexts limited fuller exploration. We recommend future studies provide detailed descriptions of the population groups involved and that they give full consideration to theoretical underpinnings and contextual factors.RegistrationThe protocol for this realist review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO CRD42016036768).

Music Teacher Competences Oriented Toward Inclusive Education: An Analysis of Proposals in the Initial Pre-Service Teacher Training Phase

Initial pre-service teacher training should include insights and learning that are closely related to classroom practice. In this paper, we analyse the expectations voiced by pre-service teachers studying toward a master’s degree in secondary education as well as by in-service teachers. Both groups participated in a 6-month professional development project focusing on the competences they need as music teachers in order to achieve inclusion in the classroom. Results from interviews and focus groups confirm that music teachers require multidimensional and correlated training that combines and integrates didactic, pedagogical, disciplinary, and transversal competences in their professional practice. Multidimensional correlated training and a critical teaching attitude are essential for teachers to be equipped to rationally address music learning needs and problems in the inclusive classroom. Findings of this exploratory study can be used as guidelines for policy makers and curriculum developers.

Evaluating ExpandED: Evaluating the effectiveness of a serious game expansion pack in teaching health professional students about interprofessional care.

The emergency department (ED) is a challenging fast-paced environment with high-acuity, undifferentiated patients who often require extensive interdisciplinary care. This paper introduces ExpandED, an expansion pack to the serious board game GridlockED, designed to enhance players' understanding of interprofessional collaboration in the ED and the diverse scope of practice of different ED professionals including physicians, residents, registered nurses, registered practical nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists. This investigation evaluates the effectiveness of ExpandED as a teaching tool for medical and allied health professions students about interprofessional collaboration in the ED. A program evaluation harnessing a playtest framework was employed. Participants completed pre- and postgame surveys including quantitative measures (e.g., Likert scales) and qualitative free-text feedback that focused on participant familiarity with ED functioning, valuation of interprofessional collaboration before and after playing, and feedback on game usability and effectiveness. Recruitment was open to students in all health care and allied health professional programs at the institution. Forty-five participants were recruited from medical doctor, nursing, physiotherapy, and speech language pathology programs. ExpandED enhances participants' understanding of ED workflow (p < 0.001) and provides an enjoyable playing experience. However, participants' valuation of interdisciplinary teamwork did not change significantly before and after game play (p = 0.17). Participants expressed satisfaction with the game's accuracy in simulating the ED environment and appreciated the opportunity to collaborate with peers from different disciplines. Challenges reported included some tension among players, potential biases, and limitations of fidelity to a real-life ED. While this study has limitations regarding participant sampling and duration of gameplay sessions, it highlights the potential of ExpandED for teaching interprofessional collaboration in the ED. These findings will guide further development to optimize the expansion pack's effectiveness and its implementation into health care curricula.

Foundations of experiential knowledge: recovering a forgotten resource for social work

This article explores the conceptual and theoretical foundation of experiential knowledge. A scoping review shows that limited studies have so far been published about experiential knowledge in the context of social work. Although the value of personal experiences is commonly acknowledged, these are generally not considered ‘real knowledge’. Two main problems are identified, the first being that in dominant positivist scientific conceptions, experiential knowledge is not seen as scientifically relevant. The second is that, epistemologically, it seems problematic to turn personal experiences into collective knowledge. Regarding the first issue, it is argued that from a social-constructivist angle, experiential knowledge is valid knowledge. Not only can denying the value of knowledge based on lived experiences be considered an epistemic injustice, but it also ignores it as a valuable resource for professional education and practice. The second issue needs to be further explored considering the complex processes of experiential knowledge production, using the opportunities that narrative and participative social work research methods offer.

The impact of a comprehensive neuroscience program on prospective teachers' neuroeducational literacy: An exploration of practice

The aim of this study is to investigate how comprehensive neurobiology training influences the neuroeducational literacy of prospective Kazakhstani teachers. This study used mixed methods. The study had 216 participants. The findings indicated that the study participants found it difficult to identify the factors influencing the development of their neuroeducational literacy which indicated a lack of understanding by prospective teachers of the meaning of neuroeducation as well as the essence and features of neuroeducation. The neuroeducational literacy of the participants developed linearly and was integrated into the educational practice of the pedagogical university during the experiment. The use of the author's comprehensive instructions on neurobiology significantly increased neuroeducational literacy and also contributed to the professional development and successful educational practices of prospective teachers. These results make a practical contribution to research on the development of neuroeducational literacy among prospective teachers and can be implemented in pedagogical universities representing a new direction in preparing future specialists for neuroeducational activities.

For which entrustable professional activities must medical students be prepared if unsupervised patient care without further training is an expectation? An international Global South study

IntroductionTraining medical students requires objectives that are often translated into frameworks of competencies. Since the introduction of entrustable professional activities (EPAs), these tasks or ‘units of professional practice’, originally conceived...

Exploring worldwide training pathways that enable clinical pharmacy career development

BackgroundPharmaceutical education is crucial for preparing pharmacists for evolving professional practice. The clinical component of pharmaceutical education and practice has grown and improved globally, though its implementation varies. Training pathways for clinical pharmacy careers vary worldwide. ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore training pathways enabling career development in clinical pharmacy. MethodsIn-depth interviews on clinical pharmacy career development were conducted with a purposive sample of academic and practice experts from thirteen countries, selected based on a prior literature review. Interviews were recorded following participants’ consent, transcribed verbatim, thematically analyzed by one researcher, and verified by a second. Disagreements were resolved through discussion with a third researcher. ResultsIn ten of the analyzed countries, the competencies required to perform clinical activities were considered the foundation of the pharmacy profession, suggesting that undergraduate education is sufficient to perform clinical pharmacy activities.Reported training-related success factors associated with the development of a career in clinical pharmacy included: interprofessional education, focus on the health context of each country, ensuring students’ readiness, practice site partnerships, patient-centricity and patient contact, good mentorship and preceptorship, time and work flexibility of the candidates, effective training evaluation and, financial support for training. Conversely, shortage of mentors and teachers with clinical practice experience, slow responsiveness of the regulatory environment, insufficient funding, resistance to change, and education-practice mismatch were identified as training-related constraints. ConclusionClinical activities form the foundation of the pharmacy profession in most countries, and undergraduate education directly provides the skills to undertake these, even though optional postgraduate education may be pursued. Understanding existing training pathways, including success factors and implementation challenges, can inform the creation, development, and optimization of education for clinical pharmacy careers.

“Reclaiming” Special Education’s Professional Practice Doctorate: Strengthening the Pipeline of Special Education Leaders

In 2006, Schulman and colleagues made a call to “reclaim” education’s doctorate (i.e., the EdD) by developing a robust professional practice doctoral degree with a distinctive scholarly base. Separate from its more traditional and research-intensive counterpart (i.e., the PhD), the EdD is intended to be more specifically tailored to and focused on skills necessary for enhancing practice. In this conceptual article, the authors argue that “reclaiming” special education’s professional practice doctorate—especially amid times of great workforce instability—serves an important and often overlooked need in terms of developing and sustaining the pipeline of special education leaders. They discuss the role of the EdD student as a scholarly practitioner and “credible insider,” illustrating how they are uniquely positioned to enact local change and build or strengthen the school’s capacity through improvement science. Recommendations for multiple impacted groups will also be addressed.

Professional practice guidelines regarding the management of a call for suspected cardiac arrest in an emergency call center

Professional practice guidelines regarding the management of a call for suspected cardiac arrest in an emergency call center

The Pivotal Role of Libraries in Sustainable AI Development

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has gained exceptional public and media coverage since the launch of the ChatGPT platform, a generative conversational intelligence, in November 2022. Nevertheless, AI is already an integral part of our digital daily lives, as we navigate through social networks, use our GPS, or consult recommendations on e-commerce websites. Due to its pervasive influence across all sectors of our societies, AI is gradually becoming a pivotal subject in terms of regulation, societal direction, and legislation. As early as 2021, UNESCO published a report presenting avenues for ethical considerations in AI. In June 2023, the European Union also established a regulatory framework outlining requirements and obligations for AI usage. As a digital manifestation and given the "new ways in which its use influences human thinking, interaction and decision-making and affects education, human, social and natural sciences, culture, and communication and information" (UNESCO. General Conference, 41st, 2021), public libraries have a role to play in enabling residents within their communities to grasp this technology. Their role is all the more significant as AI generates concerns and distrust (Gillath et al., 2021) among populations when "libraries also continue to enjoy a high level of trust and appreciation in most of their communities" (Arlitsch \&amp; Newell, 2017). Understanding AI thus constitutes a new cornerstone for accessing the necessary information to advance sustainable development, as outlined in the Lyon Declaration (2014). Moreover, comprehension of AI aligns with the ethical concerns articulated by UNESCO in terms of explainability and transparency and aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. These goals include quality education (4), industry, innovation and infrastructure (9), reduced inequalities (10), sustainable cities and communities (11), as well as responsible consumption and production (12). The role of public libraries in advancing the goals of the 2030 Agenda is beyond dispute (IFLA, 2016), and various digital literacies are already integral to their actions. As AI is predominantly developed by global economic giants and permeates all of our practices, "Shouldn’t [libraries] be the bastions of information literacy and information privacy in an AI world?" (Cox et al., 2018). Thus, to what extent can public libraries take on this subject to promote and offer relevant literacy? For this study, we will conduct a cross-analysis among three European countries—Spain, France, and Italy—to provide insights into the diverse ways in which AI influences professional practices. Through a literature review and semi-structured interviews, the objective is to delineate the challenges of Artificial Intelligence within the framework of the Agenda 2030 program. Subsequently, we will delve into the specificity of AI Literacy in comparison to Information Literacy, a practice already adopted by libraries. Finally, we will analyze the current and prospective role of AI in libraries to propose avenues for implementing concrete actions.

The Evolving Role of Information Professionals in Navigating Places, Spaces, and Nurturing New Discourses in the In‐Between

ABSTRACTInformation professionals are at the forefront of navigating the intricacies of shifting landscapes of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Society 5.0, such as physical places, digital domains, and transitional zones in between, where boundaries blur and new discourses emerge. They are expected to extend their expertise into new domains and enrich their professional practice to better meet the evolving needs of their users. Third Space theory reported in Kuhlthau's work on guided inquiry and information literacy offers a framework, that creates an “in‐between” space, which allows personal experience to merge with professional information and encounters to help information professionals expand beyond their traditional domain expertise. These spaces promote the bridging of theory and practice, the navigation of ethical boundaries, access to multi‐perspective discourse, engagement in active listening, adjustment to evolving technologies, and facilitation of innovative methods. Creating in‐between spaces that promote conversations, interaction, information flow, and access is critical to navigating the intricacies. This interactive panel will explore how information professionals may use Third Space as a framework to offer a new way of thinking and addressing complex societal challenges while prioritizing human values, needs, and well‐being.

Emerging Topics, Challenges, and Strategies for Information Science Research

ABSTRACTThis panel will discuss emerging topics, challenges, and strategies for information scholars and information organizations to advance information science (IS) research in current complex information environments. Five panelists will provide their observations and thoughts based on their extensive research and/or professional practice experience, followed by active interaction with the audience. The panel discussion will be centered around 4 questions: 1. What emerging information topics or areas will have great significance to science and/or society? 2. What are the top challenges for IS researchers to perform cutting edge research? 3. How can information science researchers work together to address our research challenges? And 4. What are the implications of emerging topics, challenges, and strategies for information schools and information organizations? The engagement of the panelists and the audience will help information science research and practitioner communities gain insights into the directions of information science research.

Curriculum in Professional Practice: Critical approaches to navigating policy

Curriculum in Professional Practice: Critical approaches to navigating policy

Interpersonal Skills And Cooperative Learning In Psychology Students Of A Private University In Guayaquil, 2023

The objective of this document is to propose a training plan based on the development of interpersonal skills with the aim of fostering cooperative learning among psychology students at a private university in Guayaquil in 2023. The research was conducted using a non-experimental design, which entailed observing and evaluating the variables or phenomena under investigation without any manipulation. The research findings indicate that inter-institutional alliances facilitate the expansion and enhancement of future psychologists' and professionals' competencies, offering them experiential learning opportunities in authentic work environments. The provision of internships in companies that offer training in this regard will be pivotal in complementing the academic training of students and better preparing them to address the issues they would encounter in professional practice. In this way, the university will not only fulfill its obligation to train competent professionals but will also become an agent of constructive social change.