Professional Behavior Research Articles

Study on the Perception and Ethical Professional Behaviors of Gen Z University-Educated Employees: A Case Study in Can Tho City, Vietnam

Study on the Perception and Ethical Professional Behaviors of Gen Z University-Educated Employees: A Case Study in Can Tho City, Vietnam

Association of the retinol to all-trans retinoic acid pathway with autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex group of neurodevelopmental disorders. Research has highlighted a close association between the retinoic acid (RA) signaling pathway and ASD. This study investigates alterations in the vitamin A (VA, retinol) to RA metabolic pathway in children with ASD and speculates on the underlying reasons for these changes. We propose a subtype characterized by downregulated RA signaling in ASD, laying the groundwork for precise diagnosis and treatment research. We included 489 children with ASD and 280 typically developing (TD) children. Those with ASD underwent evaluations of core symptoms and neuro-developmental levels, which were conducted by professional developmental behavior physicians using assessment scales. Serum VA and all-trans RA (atRA) levels were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The expression levels and concentrations of enzyme molecules such as retinol dehydrogenase 10 were assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Children with ASD exhibited reduced serum atRA, accompanied by a downregulation of atRA synthesis enzymes. The reduction in serum atRA levels was linked not only to VA levels but also to the aberrant expression of metabolic enzymes responsible for atRA. Furthermore, the serum atRA levels in children with ASD were more strongly correlated with core symptoms and neurodevelopmental levels than VA levels. Children with ASD exhibited a dual regulation of reduced serum atRA levels, influenced by both VA levels and abnormal expression of atRA metabolic enzymes.

Engaged fatherhood and new models of “nurturing care”: Lessons learnt from Austria, Italy, Lithuania and Portugal

AbstractResearch on gender‐based violence highlights the need to engage men in prevention work through social change programs that present care as a powerful antidote to violence. Implementation of such programs worldwide provides many examples of how education and support for fathers and fathers‐to‐be can promote healthy masculinities and relationships with an intimate partner and their children. This article aims to explore the findings and lessons learned from the pilot of the European Union‐funded Promotion, Awareness Raising and Engagement of men in Nurture Transformations (PARENT) project (PARENT) which sought to develop and pilot curricula adapted from the internationally tested Program P methodology. The PARENT pilot worked in four European countries to provide training activities for social, educational, and health professionals, as well as education groups for fathers and parents, with the overarching goal of preventing domestic violence through the promotion of engaged fatherhood. By reporting the results from mixed‐methods impact evaluations of pilot programs conducted with professionals and parents, this article discusses how gender‐synchronous father‐focused training can contribute to a shift toward increased positive engagement of fathers during the first 1000 days of a child's life. The article conveys the pilot's promising impact on the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of professionals and parents, and it examines some of the key contextual factors, limitations, and implementation approaches that plausibly contributed to the PARENT pilot outcomes, with the aim to formulate useful considerations for future scale‐up efforts or the future implementation of similar programs to engage fathers in nurturing care and violence prevention.

"Today, I Say It's Mine!": Professional Identity Construction among Jewish and Arab School Counselors Coping with CSA Disclosure in Israel.

School counselors play a crucial role in preventing, disclosing, and intervening in child sexual abuse cases (CSA) and in maintaining safe and protected school environments. However, research on their experiences coping with CSA remains limited. The purpose of the present study was to describe and analyze the coping experiences of Israeli Jewish and Arab school counselors with CSA disclosure, particularly the consequences for their processes of professional identity construction (the ongoing process through which they develop and refine their sense of self in their profession). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 Israeli Jewish and Arab school counselors working in elementary schools (grades 1-6) with significant experience in coping with CSA. Two themes surfaced, reflecting the counselors' professional identity construction: (1) Counselors' professional identity transformation following encounters with CSA among their students; (2) Integrating professional knowledge, attitudes, and engagement behaviors into professional identity. The findings describe a trajectory of transformation and professional development among the counselors, beginning with defining and refining their professional roles and followed by the integration of professional knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors into their professional routines. Arab counselors also highlighted specific sociocultural challenges within this process, relating to the gap between cultural values and role expectations. Implications for future research, policy, and practice are discussed.

Physician-nurse collaboration in the relationship between professional autonomy and practice behaviors.

Nurses and physicians are key members of healthcare teams. While physicians are responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of patients, nurses are part of the treatment and the primary practitioners of patient care. Nurses' professional autonomy, collaboration with physicians, and practice behaviors in treatment and patient care practices are interrelated. In the present study, we examined the mediating effect of physician-nurse collaboration on the relationship between nurses' practice behaviors and their professional autonomy. The present study utilized a cross-sectional survey design following quantitative methods. This study was conducted in the Istanbul Province of Turkiye from September to October 2022. The sampling method used was a convenience sampling strategy to provide easier access to participants when selecting nurses from different health institutions. The mean age of the 295 nurses was 31.23 years, with ages ranging from 21 to 59years. The data analysis was conducted using IBM's SPSS 24.0 software package and the Process Macro 4.0 plug-in. Research ethics approval was obtained from the researcher's university. Physician-nurse collaboration is positively associated with practice behaviors and professional autonomy. Nurses' professional autonomy in practice behaviors through physician-nurse collaboration is significant (95% CI [0.043, 0.135]). Our results revealed the relationships among physician‒nurse collaboration, professional autonomy, and practice behaviors among nurses. Our results provide evidence on the underlying factors of nurses' practice behaviors in patient care and guide the development of an intervention program to enhance this collaboration. Hospital managers can contribute to a collaborative physician‒nurse working environment.

First-time parents’ perception of midwives’ and other healthcare professionals’ support behaviours: A qualitative study

ProblemParents often report not being satisfied with the support received from midwives and nurses during their postpartum hospital stay. BackgroundSocial support is an important protective factor during the transition to parenthood. However, little is known on how first-time parents perceived the behaviours demonstrated by healthcare professionals to support them. ObjectiveTo describe social support behaviours of midwives and nurses as perceived by first-time parents during the early postpartum period. MethodsThis qualitative study used individual semi-structured interviews to collect data. A purposeful sample of first-time parents staying on the postpartum ward of a Swiss university hospital were included. Thematic analysis was performed to identify themes and sub-themes. FindingsA total of 26 parents (15 mothers and 11 fathers) were interviewed. Parents reported behaviours perceived either as positive or negative. These behaviours were summarized into five themes: “Welcoming parents on the postpartum ward”, “Establishing a partnership with parents”, “Guiding parents in acquiring their new parenting role”, “Caring for parent's emotions”, and “Creating a peaceful environment”. Discussion and conclusionThis study reported a wide variety of professional support behaviours. Behaviours promoting individualised care and related to empowering parents in their infant care were perceived as helpful by parents. Midwives and nurses should be aware of the way they provide support, as this shapes the early postpartum experience of first-time parents. Being sufficiently staffed and being well-trained, especially in providing interpersonal support, could help midwives and nurses provide better sensitive individualised care.

An Empirical Study of the Use of Educational Techniques to Change Preschool Educators' Attitudes Toward Their Profession

Professional attitudes are one of the most important aspects that determine the level of success in one's work with preschool instructors as well as the quality of the professional activities that are performed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of psychological approaches in influencing the attitudes of preschool teachers in order to favorably modify the participants' emotions and professional behaviors, which would ultimately result in participants having a more positive attitude toward their work. We recruited 70 preschool teachers from among the 347 participants who made up the entire sample. There were 36 teachers assigned to the experimental group, and 34 teachers assigned to the control group. The research utilizes psychological methods to influence the participants' perspectives on the nature of their work. After participating in the trial, the individuals' levels went from 1 and 2 to 4, according to the findings, which indicates that this change occurred immediately. The theory of teachers' professional attitudes and the actuality of the attitudes held by preschool teachers are discussed in relation to these findings. In addition, the administrator and educators are responsible for guiding the creation of the police document so that it satisfies the requirements of innovation, education, human resource development, current requirements, requirements of enterprises, employers, and employers, as well as satisfying the criteria for general education innovation.

Validating a theory of planned behavior questionnaire for assessing changes in professional behaviors of medical students.

Teaching professionalism is a fundamental aspect of medical undergraduate education, delivering important domains of professional attitudes, ethics, and behaviors. The effects of educational interventions can be assessed by measuring the change in such domains, but validated assessment tools for these professionalism domains are lacking. In this study, we constructed and conducted expert validation of a modified theory of planned behavior (TPB) questionnaire to assess changes in professional behaviors (PBs) in medical students. To validate that, we modified an existing TPB questionnaire, and an 18-item questionnaire was subjected to expert panel evaluation using the content validation method. The clarity and relevance of items were assessed using a four-point rating scale (i.e., 1 = not relevant to 4 = highly relevant). Ratings of experts and free-text comments were analyzed. Quantitative evaluation of relevance and clarity was undertaken through analyses of the Item-level Content Validity Index (I-CVI) and Scale-level Content Validity Index (S-CVI). A qualitative assessment of the comments of experts was conducted to refine items, any disagreements were discussed, and a consensus decision was developed among authors for item changes. Quantitative evaluation of the Item-level Content Validity Index (I-CVI) scored 0.9-1 for relevance and 0.7-1 for clarity. Qualitative evaluation resulted in (i) changes to the wording of items (e.g., choices such as "worthless/worthwhile" were replaced with "not important/important"); and (ii) suggestion of the addition of social media in the construct of subjective norms. The proposed tool exhibits content validity and can assess TPB constructs in professionalism education. This study of content validity may help to ensure the modified TPB questionnaire accurately measures the TPB constructs, ensuring its effectiveness in accurately measuring the TPB constructs for PB in diversified educational medical institutions.

Patient Safety Culture: Nurses' Perspective in the Hospital Setting.

(1) Background: Patient safety culture (PSC) encompasses the values, attitudes, norms, beliefs, practices, perceptions, competencies, policies, and behaviours of professionals that determine organisational commitment to quality and patient safety. Few studies use mixed methods to analyse patient safety culture, and none offer the richness of using a mixed methodology to develop their theoretical model. This study aims to identify the factors nurses believe contextualise and influence PSC in relation to existing theoretical frameworks. (2) Methods: This study employed a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design combined with the Pillar Integration Process for data integration. (3) Results: In the final data integration process, 26 factors affecting nurses' PSC were identified. Factors nurses related to PSC not being assessed with the tool used in phase 1 were notification system, flow of patients, patient involvement, resources and infrastructure, and service characteristics. (4) Conclusions: This mixed-methods study provides an opportunity to identify the weaknesses and strengths of currently developed theoretical frameworks related to PSC and offers content for its improvement. Even though multiple studies aim to assess PSC using existing quantitative method tools, the development of this study offers a glimpse of some aspects relevant to nurses' PSC not included in the theoretical framework of the said tools, such as patient involvement, the flow of patients, and service infrastructure.

Defining Professional Behaviour in Midwifery Practice

Commentary.

The perceived fairness and consistency of SAPS disciplinary practices: The demographic analysis

Background: A plethora of organisations have paid heavy prices due to improper application and biased use of disciplinary policies and procedures. This results in serious conflict and disharmony in the workplace.Aim: This study analysed how employees’ demographical variables influence the way they perceive fairness and consistency of disciplinary practices within the South African Police Service (SAPS).Setting: The study was conducted in Gauteng provincial policing precinct of Tshwane District.Methods: This study adopted a quantitative research methodology. A Likert-type questionnaire with 24 items was administered to 286 respondents. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the inferential statistics (Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis test).Results: The study indicated no significant difference between the gender variables on the perceptions of the disciplinary practices of the SAPS. Moreover, there were no significant differences between the different generations. However, the study yielded a statistically significant result in terms of employee experience.Conclusion: The study suggests that employees of SAPS perceive the disciplinary practices to be arbitrary and failing to accomplish the essential objective of fairness and consistency. This study serves as a guideline to managers on how to apply the disciplinary procedures equitably and consistently in order to treat all employees fairly.Contribution: Although discipline is an important drive to employees’ ethical and professional behaviour, few studies have investigated employees’ reaction to disciplinary actions. This study has exceptionally provided the employees’ demographical analysis in relation to the perceptions of fair and consistent discipline.

Comparative study: perceptions of multiple education stakeholders on children with disabilities and goals of special education in Oman and the Philippines

PurposeThis comparative study explored the perceptions of educational stakeholders in Oman and the Philippines concerning children with disabilities and the goals of special education. Stakeholders' perspectives can influence their professional behaviours and attitudes, which, in turn, can profoundly impact children with disabilities who already face numerous challenges. Hence, comprehending the viewpoints of these stakeholders is vital for fostering socially just education for individuals with disabilities.Design/methodology/approachThis study employed a qualitative comparative case study approach with a horizontal comparison strategy, and both convenience and purposeful sampling techniques were used for participant selection. The study involved 53 participants from both countries, including policymakers, teacher educators, in-service teachers and student teachers from general and special education domains. Data were gathered through individual interviews and themes were subsequently discerned via data analysis.FindingsDespite the different cultural and historical contexts and distinct roles of stakeholders in both countries, the results indicate more parallels than disparities in their perceptions. The primary congruence underscored in this research was imperative to critically assess the language and ideology surrounding the goals of special education, such as mainstreaming and normalisation.Originality/valueAlthough numerous studies have probed the perceptions of various educational stakeholders concerning children with disabilities and educational goals, there is limited research that encompasses the perspectives of the seven distinct stakeholder groups. The consistency of language usage across both countries and among all stakeholders underscores the need for a rigorous cross-country examination involving all educational participants.

'I'm still su!c!dal when you're done with the paperwork': an inductive framework thematic analysis of #camhs on TikTok.

Young people are sharing their experiences of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the United Kingdom on TikTok. Little is known about the content of these videos and their influence on young people's attitudes towards seeking professional mental health support. This study explored how CAMHS is represented in a sample of 100 #camhs TikTok videos using participatory inductive framework thematic analysis. Four themes were developed alongside young people as co-researchers: (a) CAMHS can be frustrating and unhelpful, but sometimes life-saving, (b) Young people can feel their distress is invalidated by CAMHS, (c) CAMHS makes young people feel responsible for their distress, and (d) Young people may not feel CAMHS professionals are trustworthy. Video content described dismissive responses to expressions of suicidal ideation, professional knowledge being privileged over lived experience, and breaches of confidentiality. Some shared positive experiences of CAMHS helping to keep them safe. Together, the themes reflect a representation of CAMHS as a service where adults are powerful and young people occupy a subjugated position. This may influence young people's professional help-seeking behaviour. Recommendations for clinical practice and future research are presented.

The quality of social relationships with students, mentor teachers and fellow student teachers and their role in the development of student teachers’ emotions in the practicum

The emotional well-being of individuals is largely dependent on the quality of their social relationships, as acknowledged by self-determination theory and the belongingness hypothesis. While the significance of high-quality relationships for teachers has received increasing attention in empirical research, little is known about the impact of social relationships on student teachers' emotions in the practicum, especially from a quantitative perspective and considering multiple relationship qualities simultaneously. Research on this topic is highly topical as emotions have been found to be important drivers both for professional behaviour in the classroom and professionalisation processes in general. Against this backdrop, our study examined how the quality of social relationships between students in class, mentor teachers, and fellow student teachers influences the development of emotional experiences of student teachers in a school practicum. We conducted an online survey with 203 Austrian student teachers studying secondary education, inquiring about their emotional experiences and social relationships before and after their practicum. The results revealed that the quality of relationships with students in class was the most influential factor determining changes in student teachers’ emotional states during their practicum. These findings emphasise the importance of cultivating positive relationships with students in the classroom, especially during the school practicum in teacher education.

Graduate and Health Professional Student Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, and Behavior Related to Human Papillomavirus and Human Papillomavirus Vaccination: A Scoping Review of the Literature.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection. Despite a safe and effective vaccine, uptake continues to be suboptimal. Recently, focus has moved to college campuses in an effort to increase vaccination rates. Little is known about the extent of efforts to reach graduate students on college campuses in the United States and the vaccination rates within this subpopulation. This scoping review assessed the literature on knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors about HPV and HPV vaccination among graduate and post-baccalaureate professional students in the United States. This review also aims to identify areas for further research to improve institutions' abilities to create health programming to increase HPV awareness and HPV vaccination coverage on their campuses. Publications focusing on knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors about HPV and HPV vaccination in post-baccalaureate students were included. The systematic review of PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase identified 2562 articles, and 56 articles met all inclusion criteria and were included in this scoping review. A majority of the reviewed studies investigated some combination of knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs about HPV and the HPV vaccine in students in professional programs such as medicine. Study design approaches were primarily cross-sectional, utilizing web-based survey distribution methods. HPV vaccination status and HPV screening behaviors were primarily measured through participant self-report. There is limited research investigating post-baccalaureate student knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors about HPV and HPV vaccination. There is a need for researchers to further investigate the needs of graduate students to create informative and effective HPV programming.

CURRENT TRENDS OF TRAINING SPECIALISTS IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY THROUGH THE PRISM OF ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

The article focuses attention on the need to research modern trends in the training of pharmaceutical industry specialists through the prism of deontological and professional standards. It was established that the modern system of professional training of future specialists in the pharmaceutical industry was influenced by the changes that the industry underwent after Ukraine gained independence: a significant reduction in the range and volume of production of domestic pharmaceutical products, orientation towards European standards of professional training of specialists, compliance with the ethical principles of the work of pharmaceutical specialists. It is noted that the Code of Ethics of Pharmaceutical Workers of Ukraine became the basic regulatory regulator of pharmacist professional ethics in Ukraine, but the further development of international legislation requires adaptation of the domestic pharmaceutical education system to its requirements. The article analyzes the key normative documents that determine the deontological and professional standards for the training of pharmaceutical industry specialists. Modern trends in the training of specialists in the pharmaceutical industry are defined as: the focus on increasing the prestige of the pharmacist profession, raising its status and improving its image in society; compliance with high standards of professional behavior of pharmaceutical industry specialists; strengthening of patient- and client-oriented professional activity in the field of pharmacy, which meets the modern requirements of deontological and professional standards regarding the transfer of emphasis from subject-object interaction in the specialist-client-patient plane to subject-subject interaction; strengthening the professional autonomy of pharmacists among other specialists of the health care system.

Hemşirelik Öğrencilerinin Meslek Seçiminin Profesyonel Davranışa Etkisi

Çalışmada hemşirelik öğrencilerinin meslek seçimi ile profesyonel davranış arasındaki ilişkinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Kesitsel bir çalışma olan araştırmanın örneklemini, 349 hemşirelik öğrencisi oluşturmuştur. Veriler Kişisel Bilgi Formu, Hemşirelik Öğrencilerinde Profesyonel Davranış Ölçeği, Hemşirelikte Meslek Seçimi Ölçeği ile toplanmıştır. Verilerin değerlendirmesinde yüzde, standart sapma, ortalama, pearson korelasyon katsayısı ve çoklu doğrusal regresyon analizi kullanılmıştır. Hemşirelikte Meslek Seçimi Ölçeği alt boyutları, cinsiyet ve sınıf hemşirelik öğrencilerinin profesyonel davranışlarının %10 varyansını açıklamıştır. Hemşirelikte Meslek Seçimi Ölçeği mesleki uygunluk alt boyutu ile Hemşirelik Öğrencilerinde Profesyonel Davranış Ölçeği puanları arasında anlamlı ilişki var iken (p 0.05). Bu çalışma ile meslek seçimi ve profesyonel davranış arasında bir ilişki olduğu saptanmıştır.

Understanding delays in chronic limb-threatening ischaemia care: Application of the theoretical domains framework to identify factors affecting primary care clinicians' referral behaviours.

Patients in the community with suspected Chronic limb-threatening ischaemia (CLTI) should be urgently referred to vascular services for investigation and management. The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) allows identification of influences on health professional behaviour in order to inform future interventions. Here, the TDF is used to explore primary care clinicians' behaviours with regards to recognition and referral of CLTI. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 podiatrists, nurses and general practitioners in primary care. Directed content analysis was performed according to the framework method. Utterances were coded to TDF domains, and belief statements were defined by grouping similar utterances. Relevance of domains was confirmed according to belief frequency, presence of conflicting beliefs and the content of the beliefs indicating relevance. Nine TDF domains were identified as relevant to primary care clinicians: Knowledge, Environmental context and resources, Memory, Decision and attention processes, Beliefs about capabilities, Skills, Emotions, Reinforcement and Behavioural regulation. Relationships across domains were identified, including how primary care clinician confidence and working in a highly pressurized environment can affect behaviour. We have identified key barriers and enablers to timely recognition and referral behaviour. These beliefs identify targets for theory-driven behaviour change interventions to reduce delays in CLTI pathways.

'ThinkCancer!': randomised feasibility trial of a novel practice-based early cancer diagnosis intervention.

UK cancer deaths remain high; primary care is key for earlier cancer diagnosis as half of avoidable delays occur here. Improvement is possible through lower referral thresholds, better guideline adherence, and better safety-netting systems. Few interventions target whole practice teams. We developed a novel whole-practice team intervention to address this. To test the feasibility and acceptability of a novel, complex behavioural intervention, 'ThinkCancer!', for assessment in a subsequent Phase III trial. Pragmatic, superiority pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) with an embedded process evaluation and feasibility economic analysis in Welsh general practices. Clinical outcome data were collected from practices (the unit of randomisation). Practice characteristics and cancer safety-netting systems were assessed. Individual practice staff completed evaluation and feedback forms and qualitative interviews. The intervention was adapted and refined. Trial recruitment and workshop deliveries took place between March 2020 and May 2021. Trial progression criteria for recruitment, intervention fidelity, and routine data collection were met. Staff-level fidelity, retention, and individual level data collection processes were reviewed and amended. Interviews highlighted positive participant views on all aspects of the intervention. All practices set out to liberalise referral thresholds appropriately, implement guidelines, and address safety-netting plans in detail. 'ThinkCancer!' appears feasible and acceptable. The new iteration of the workshops was completed and the Phase III trial has been funded to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of this novel professional behaviour change intervention. Delivery at scale to multiple practices will likely improve fidelity and reach.

Professionalism in Communication Sciences and Disorders: Consideration of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access

Purpose: This tutorial aims to provide an in-depth discussion of professionalism in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) with consideration of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. Students, practitioners, and faculty in CSD are taught and held to expectations of professionalism. However, criteria for professionalism often do not fully consider diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. Method: Relevant literature on professionalism and diversity, equity, and inclusion is reviewed and summarized. Case scenarios are also shared to provide examples of how these aspects are not currently considered in the discipline of CSD. Results: The current definitions of professionalism are vague and oftentimes exclude cultural differences. Because the majority of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association membership and leadership groups are from the mainstream culture, the definitions and attributes of professional norms have been influenced by mainstream culture. Conclusions: Recent publications on professionalism and professional behavior in medicine have discussed the impact of racialized professionalism norms on increasing diversity of medical students and trainees. It is imperative to resonate such issues in the CSD profession, because there is a growing number of students and practitioners from minority groups. This tutorial addresses how the discipline of CSD can reflect cultural responsiveness to the standards for students, practitioners, and faculty. Several solutions are suggested.