Professional Guidance Research Articles

Higher Education Accommodation Decision-Making and Positionality: A Survey of Disability Resource Professionals

In higher education settings, the central function of a disability resource professional (DRP) is determining accommodations in collaboration with disabled college students, making their role in the outcomes of students with disabilities paramount. Despite this importance, research on the process of determining accommodations is minimal, and professional guidance on the matter can be interpreted in varied ways, leading DRPs to rely on their professional judgment to reach final decisions. What subtly informs this professional judgment, particularly concerning DRPs’ positionalities and student identities, is largely unexplored. The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of U.S. DRPs related to their accommodation decision-making processes, experiences, and perceptions. Based on the results of this exploratory national survey of DRPs, accommodation decision-making processes described by participants can be divided into four components: (a) forming initial opinions, (b) engaging with students, (c) consulting with others, and (d) making final decisions. Notably, participants’ perceptions of positionality and identities in the accommodations process situated those of students to be more heavily considered than their own. Following a presentation of findings, the authors conclude with implications for the field and recommendations for future research.

Penggunaan Aplikasi Instrumen Need Asessment (Studi Kebutuhan) Bimbingan dan Konseling (BK) Berbasis Komputer Sebagai Dasar Perencanaan Program BK Bagi Guru BK di SMP

Professional guidance and counseling teachers are expected to master the basic knowledge in the field of guidance and counseling, both theoretical and practical. To support the implementation of duties as a guidance and counseling teacher, it is necessary to have understanding and skills related to needs assessment instrumentation to the preparation of guidance and counseling programs. However, sometimes there are limitations in implementing needs assessment instrumentation, so to make it easier for guidance and counseling teachers in implementing needs assessment instrumentation, a needs assessment instrumentation application was created. This service activity aims to provide understanding, knowledge and skills related to instrumentation applications, needs assessments, and program design based on the results of the needs assessment instrumentation. Skills in identifying needs, interpreting the results of needs assessment instrumentation, compiling guidance and counseling programs and using computer-based guidance and counseling need assessment instrumentation applications. The results show that community service activities regarding the use of computer-based guidance and counseling needs assessment instrumentation applications are in demand and have received positive responses from junior high school guidance and counseling teachers in Agam Regency. Apart from that, it is felt that this activity is very necessary to be given to guidance and counseling teachers who have not received this workshop, then this application is also easy to use in carrying out the duties of guidance and counseling teachers and the material provided is also relevant to the needs of guidance and counseling teachers in schools

Knowledge and perception regarding the risk associated with self-medication in Ado-Odo Ota local government area of Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract Background: Self-medication, extensively adopted globally, has become a widespread practice that raises public health concerns due to its associated consequences. Materials and Methods: The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design within the Ado-Odo Ota local government area (LGA) of Ogun State. A structured questionnaire was administered to gauge residents’ understanding and viewpoints regarding the risks linked to self-medication. The research encompassed all chosen individuals residing in the Ado-Odo Ota LGA, employing stratified random sampling methods to select 240 participants. Data analysis was conducted using the SPSS statistical software package. Results: The study revealed that a significant portion of the participants (78%) engaged in self-medication. The primary source of information for self-medication was previous prescriptions (40.2%), indicating that individuals relied on their past experiences and prescriptions for guidance. Interestingly, most respondents, both those who self-medicated and those who did not, considered self-medication unfavorable (61.2% and 67.8%, respectively). Non-self-medicated individuals showed greater awareness of the potential risk of self-medication leading to drug abuse (76.3%) compared with those who self-medicated (62.4%). Moreover, a higher percentage of non-self-medicated individuals (57.6%) believed that self-medication could result in adverse drug reactions compared with self-medicated individuals (23.4%). The study indicated that most respondents had a negative perception of the risks associated with self-medication, with an average score of 2.01 ± 0.87. In addition, most respondents (94.4%) reported getting well after taking the drugs they self-medicated with. Conclusion: Measures need to be implemented to enhance public awareness regarding the dangers associated with self-medication, advocate for responsible medication practices, and prompt individuals to seek professional medical guidance for their healthcare requirements.

Positive effects of employee psychological assistance programs on HR patients with social anxiety disorder

BackgroundWith the continuous improvement of employees’ humanized needs, more and more enterprises have set up employee psychological assistance programs. The way of diagnosing and advising organizations and employees through professionals, providing professional guidance, training and counseling is also of certain research value for the treatment of HR patients with social anxiety disorder.Subjects and MethodsThe study selected 38 people with SAD and 22 healthy controls to complete the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. At the same time, eye tracking technology was used to investigate the eye movement attention of the two groups of subjects to their own faces with different emotions, and the changes in symptoms and eye movement characteristics of SAD patients were followed up for 4 weeks.ResultsThe healthy group scored 9.950±4.87, and before the EPA intervention, SADHR patients had a higher score on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale of 77.610±24.00. After the EPA intervention, the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale score of SADHR patients was significantly reduced by 52.6% compared with the previous one. The results of eye tracking studies changed, with a significant increase in the order of first fixation points in the 4-week region of interest.ConclusionsPatients with SADHR have a high level of self-attention, and most of them are negative and have low self-evaluation. After using the EPA intervention, the self-evaluation of SADHR patients improved. Social anxiety symptoms were not significantly correlated with eye movement features of one’s own face.

Determining the Roles of School Management Teams in Fostering Entrepreneurship among Learners

This study explored the roles of School Management Teams (SMTs) in fostering entrepreneurship education among learners. Entrepreneurship is recognised as a vital driver of economic growth, innovation, and job creation, making it increasingly necessary to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset and skill set in learners. SMTs, comprising school administrators, teachers, parents and community representatives, are pivotal in shaping and developing the entrepreneurial potential of students. However, little research has focused specifically on the roles of SMTs in this domain. The study applied a Systematic Literature Review, where 2518 papers were reviewed from academic databases and other research sources, including SAGE, Wiley, Elsevier, and Inderscience, to find pertinent studies published in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, and reports. Two main themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Current roles of SMTs in fostering entrepreneurship among learners, including curriculum development, resource allocation, teacher professional development, community engagement, learner support and guidance, evaluation and assessment, and policy development; and (2) Advising roles of SMTs to foster entrepreneurship in learners, encompassing individual student guidance, group mentoring, career counselling, connecting students with resources, monitoring progress, and celebrating success. Recommendations include strengthening collaboration and networking, providing continuous professional development for SMT members, integrating entrepreneurship education into the curriculum, establishing school support structures, implementing effective evaluation and assessment mechanisms, and engaging in policy advocacy. By implementing these recommendations, SMTs could enhance their roles in fostering entrepreneurship among learners, creating a supportive and conducive ecosystem that nurtures and develops entrepreneurial attitudes and competencies.

Method of Electrical Muscle Stimulation for Training FPS Game Players in the Timing of Shots

In first-person shooter (FPS) games, players often need to calculate the timing of their shots for moving targets in advance based on the speed and relative position of those targets. For most players, the accurate timing of shots requires extended gaming experience and training. Unlike professional players, hobby players have less time to compete and train, do not receive professional game guidance, and cannot afford expensive gaming devices. According to previous studies, wearable devices with electrical stimulation can effectively control the muscles with rapid reactions. Here, we provide a method for training the timing of gaming shooters using electrical muscle stimulation (EMS). We believe that training with EMS is feasible and effective, allowing players to quickly learn and improve their gaming experience. To test the feasibility and effectiveness of our approach, we first tested the player's reaction time when using the EMS device to ensure that it did not have a negative impact on the player. Participants were then trained in a custom FPS game with three methods: EMS, non-EMS and EMS-only. The results showed a more significant increase in the average hit rate of EMS-trained participants compared to those trained using the other two methods. Thus, our study shows the possibility of using EMS devices as a training medium for a custom FPS game.

Sitting on the fence: A qualitative study of perceptions regarding pelvic floor muscle training among pregnant women with urinary incontinence

ObjectivesTo explore the perceptions of pregnant women with urinary incontinence toward pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT). MethodsSemi-structured personal interviews were used to collect data. Pregnant women with urinary incontinence and no contraindications to PFMT were recruited for semi-structured interviews in the Outpatient Department of Obstetrics in a Class A tertiary hospital in Shenzhen from October to November 2021. Purposive sampling was performed, and Braun & Clarke thematic analysis was used for the data analysis. ResultsSixteen pregnant women with urinary incontinence and a mean age of (30.81 ± 3.66) years participated in the interview. “Sitting on the fence” was the predominant theme acquired after analysis. Pregnant women had contradictory attitudes toward PFMT. A total of four themes and nine sub-themes have been extracted: “It is normal and does not really matter” (normalized urinary incontinence, insufficient attention to PFMT); “There is nothing I can do” (insufficient subjective motivations, limitation of objective conditions, lack of social support); “We have to take care of ourselves” (the increasing self-care awareness, emerging autonomous motivation to practice PFMT); “Training should be guaranteed” (requiring the guidance, suggestions, and surveillance of healthcare professionals; requiring the perceptive benefits). ConclusionsThis study reveals varying attitudes towards PFMT among pregnant women with urinary incontinence. To better promote pregnant women’s engagement in PFMT, it is necessary to provide professional guidance, increase self-care awareness, improve social support, and emphasize the benefits of PFMT.

All Roads Lead to the Gut: The Importance of the Microbiota and Diet in Migraine.

Migraine, a prevalent neurological condition and the third most common disease globally, places a significant economic burden on society. Despite extensive research efforts, the precise underlying mechanism of the disease remains incompletely comprehended. Nevertheless, it is established that the activation and sensitization of the trigeminal system are crucial during migraine attacks, and specific substances have been recognized for their distinct involvement in the pathomechanism of migraine. Recently, an expanding body of data indicates that migraine attacks can be prevented and treated through dietary means. It is important to highlight that the various diets available pose risks for patients without professional guidance. This comprehensive overview explores the connection between migraine, the gut microbiome, and gastrointestinal disorders. It provides insight into migraine-triggering foods, and discusses potential diets to help reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks. Additionally, it delves into the benefits of using pre- and probiotics as adjunctive therapy in migraine treatment.

Surgical treatment of kyphosis in children and adolescents

Correction of apathological kyphosis to restore abalanced, low-pain or pain-free and load-bearing spine. Pronounced sagittal imbalance, progressive kyphosis despite conservative therapy, and neurological deficits are indications for surgery. Further surgical indications are severe therapy-resistant complaints and/or psychologically burdening cosmetic impairment. The guidelines for surgical indications are kyphosis angles of 75-80° thoracic and 30-50° lumbar. No specific, but general contraindications for surgical treatment. Depending on the characteristics of the kyphosis, different surgical techniques are used. Rod-screw systems are mainly used, and surgery is primarily performed by shortening the spinal column from posterior using awide variety of techniques. In individual cases, this can be combined with ventrally mobilizing, resecting, or straightening techniques. The aim of surgical treatment is to achieve aprimarily stable and weight-bearing spine. Regular wound control as well as stabilizing physiotherapy during follow-up are essential. Postoperatively, initially abstaining from sports; later physical activity is encouraged under professional guidance. The literature shows very good corrective results in children and adolescents. The technical procedures are associated with alow and acceptable complication rate. Over the course of time, these patients must be monitored in order to detect possible long-term complications such as junctional kyphosis or pseudarthrosis.

From Poor Buildings to High Performance Buildings: The Spontaneous Green Evolution of Vernacular Architecture

The spontaneous evolution of vernacular architecture mainly relies on the inheritance of architectural traditions and the innovative decisions of occupants, rather than the professional guidance of architects and the promotion of government agencies. This study introduces a new and rapidly developing phenomenon of spontaneous green evolution of vernacular architecture into the professional field, and conducts scientific research on its technical characteristics, system effects, and optimization methods. Based on the phenomenon of roofing of courtyards (CBR) in southern Hebei, we intervene from the professional point of view of architects, make the best use of the situation, and moderately intervene in its scientific development. By re-examining the adaptability of the open and closed attributes of courtyard buildings to specific climatic conditions and living patterns, the performance improvement and potential risks brought by CBR to local vernacular buildings are systematically analyzed, and the improvement strategies and promotion paths of CBR are explored. The research aims to form a relay and interaction between the professional intervention of architects and the spontaneous evolution of folk wisdom, and to explore the sustainable development of vernacular architecture. The findings help to improve the health and comfort of existing vernacular buildings, as well as to contribute to the improvement of rural human settlements.

ACCELERATION OF VOCATIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT (ADVP) A TOOL TO ACCOMPANY STUDENTS IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL CHOICE

Vocational guidance and counseling are one of the most important educational and psychological services attributed to the modern school, which aims of teaching learners to the maximum of their abilities, skills, attitudes, inclinations and personal maturity, which allows them to make decisions related to their educational background and their professional future. And since the future of the learner is one of the concerns of the school and this is its objective, the educational and vocational guidance and counseling program represents one of the areas that embodies this objective, as indicated in Article (66) of Guiding Law of Education that states: "... Professional guidance and counseling are intended to prepare and guide the student according to his abilities, desires, aspirations, and the requirements of the social and economic environment, for allow him to gradually build your personal project and make his educational and professional choices with full knowledge of the facts.” From this point of view, this study will highlight the choice education program in the Algerian education system through the method of activating Vocational and Personal Development in rehabilitation called (AVPD) developed by a group of Canadian researchers (Pelletier.D, Noiseux. G & Bujold.C.1974) as a tool for pedagogical and psychological accompaniment for the learner in their professional choice

Psychosocial patient perspectives following major lower-limb amputation due to vascular aetiology: a protocol for a systematic meta-aggregation study

IntroductionPersistent psychosocial problems in people with lower-limb amputation due to vascular aetiology indicate a great need for long-lasting holistic rehabilitation. An in-depth understanding of the psychosocial problems is essential for...

Self-Medication Practice During Covid-19 Among Medical Field Students at Umm Alqura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia: Cross-Sectional Survey

Self-medication is prevalent practice that described as administration of one or more medications in order to treatself-diagnosed or self- recognized diseases or symptoms without the supervision of physician or pharmacist. The world is currentlystruggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, which makes the prevalence of self-medication practice evident with the ongoingpandemic. Our study aimed to assess the prevalence and patterns of self-medication practices among medical field students. Also,to determine the most common reasons, symptoms, and medications associated with self-medication practice. A descriptive crosssectionalstudy was conducted on 561 medical field students at Umm Al-Qura University to assess the prevalence, attitudes, andpractice of self-medication. A web-based questionnaire was conducted to collect their demographic, socioeconomic status, andhealth-related information. More precisely, Self-medication practice during COVID-19. Two-thirds of the students in the medicalsector self-medicated, and almost half of them reported doing so more frequently during the pandemic, according to the research.Pain and flu-like symptoms were the most often reported symptoms leading to self-medication. As a result, the students utilisedanalgesics and anti-flu drugs most frequently during this time. The report emphasises how common self-medication is among UmmAl-Qura University students studying medicine. These students must, however, grasp the boundaries of self-medication and whenit is important to seek professional medical guidance. Medical students may have a strong foundation in medicine, but registeredor licensed, trained and skilled healthcare professionals are still required for accurate diagnosis and successful treatment.Therefore, promoting awareness and providing education on responsible medication use is essential to ensure the well-being andsafety of medical students during the COVID-19 pandemicand beyond.Keywords: ; ; ; ,

Medical mentorship deconstructed: an analysis and structural recommendation for high value mentorship.

Background: Mentorship is an important component for young students interested in pursuing a career in medicine. In medically underserved areas, such as rural areas, mentorship can be sparse due to the lack of access to healthcare professionals. The purpose of this project was to gain an understanding of the mentorship received by practicing medical students. Methods: The authors conducted structured, one-on-one interviews with 10 current medical students about their perceptions and experiences with mentorship. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed for themes and subthemes. Results: Our findings revolve around three time periods of mentorship: 1) Before Obtaining a Mentor; 2) During the Mentorship; and 3) After the Mentorship. In our findings we describe key characteristics such as professional development, personal qualities of the mentor, and professional and personal guidance as important components in guiding the mentee starting from the undergraduate level and continuing to their current level of education. Conclusion: Interviewees' experiences with and perspectives on the mentorship they received were generally positive, though it was evident there are some aspects of the mentee-mentor relationship that can be improved. Building on the results obtained, setting expectations, providing mentor training, and pairing mentors/mentees from similar backgrounds are what we propose to create fulfilling and meaningful relationships between a mentee and mentor.

Clinicians and AI use: where is the professional guidance?

With the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) to healthcare, there is also a need for professional guidance to support its use. New (2022) reports from National Health Service AI Lab...

The influence of sustainability assurance report format and level on nonprofessional investors’ judgments

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the influence of sustainability assurance report format (separate versus combined with financial information assurance) and level (limited versus reasonable) on nonprofessional investors’ judgments.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a 2 × 2 between-participants experiment with 436 US nonprofessional investors. The authors manipulate sustainability assurance report format and level to identify differences in judgments of information credibility, investment desirability and investment amount.FindingsThis study finds that sustainability assurance level influences participants’ judgments only when the financial and sustainability assurance reports are presented separately. Specifically, participants assess sustainability performance information as more credible and make higher investment judgments when presented with a separate limited, as opposed to reasonable, assurance sustainability report.Practical implicationsThe International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board expressed concerns regarding whether assurance reports accompanying emerging forms of extended external reporting (EER) effectively communicate the level of assurance provided by the independent practitioner. The result that assurance level does not influence investor judgments in the combined reporting format appears contrary to the idea that integrated reporting should provide connectivity between financial and sustainability information. The finding that investors make higher investment and credibility judgments with limited assurance is inconsistent with the intent of sustainability assurance professional guidance and recent research results. Together, the findings suggest that investors may not be able to distinguish between differing levels of sustainability assurance when this information is presented in a combined report format.Social implicationsStandard setters should consider how sustainability assurance report format and assurance level impact nonprofessional investor judgments.Originality/valueResearch on the effects of EER assurance report format is sparse. The results indicate that even slight changes in assurance report wording may cause investors to perceive that a limited assurance report conveys a higher assurance level than a reasonable assurance report.

Clinical Supervision to Grow Scientific Literacy Through Teaching Materials Based on Local Wisdom in Pati Regency at Grade IV Elementary School Students

The implementation of the development of flipbook teaching materials is based on the low scientific literacy of students due to limited material and incomplete companion books, then students are not accustomed to being skilled at carrying out scientific literacy in the Pati Regency environment. The research method in this article was systematic literature review. The purpose of developing flipbook teaching materials was to produce learning media that can be used independently by students to foster scientific literacy in class IV of elementary schools in Pati Regency. grade IV Elementary School in Pati Regency. This research sought to build scientific literacy through flipbook teaching materials based on local wisdom in Pati Regency, Central Java Province with the subject matter of substances and their changes. With clinical supervision carried out through two stages, there are professional guidance for teachers and school principals and scientific literacy tours with the target of writing learning articles. Keywords: Clinical Supervision, Scientific Literacy, Teaching Materials, Local Wisdom.

Building Thermal and Energy Performance of Subtropical Terraced Houses under Future Climate Uncertainty

Due to global temperature increases, terraced house (TH) residents face a threat to their health due to poor indoor thermal environments. As buildings are constructed by low-income residents without professional guidance, this study aims to investigate the indoor thermal comfort and energy resilience of THs under the future climate and determine the optimal passive design strategies for construction and retrofitting. By exploring the effects of building envelope structures, adjusting the window-to-wall ratio (WWR) and designing shading devices, EnergyPlus version 22.0 was used to optimize the thermal environment and cooling load of THs throughout their life cycle under future climate uncertainties. Unimproved THs will experience overheating for nearly 90% of the hours in a year and the cooling load will exceed 60,000 kWh by 2100 under the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 8.5 scenario. In contrast, optimization and improvements resulted in a 17.3% reduction in indoor cooling load by increasing shading devices and the WWR, and using building envelope structures with moderate thermal insulation. This study can guide TH design and renovation, significantly reducing indoor cooling load and enabling residents to better use active cooling to combat future overheating environments.

Video Recording Patients for Direct Care Purposes: Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis of International Empirical Studies and UK Professional Guidance.

Video recordings of patients may offer advantages to supplement patient assessment and clinical decision-making. However, little is known about the practice of video recording patients for direct care purposes. We aimed to synthesize empirical studies published internationally to explore the extent to which video recording patients is acceptable and effective in supporting direct care and, for the United Kingdom, to summarize the relevant guidance of professional and regulatory bodies. Five electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, APA PsycINFO, CENTRAL, and HMIC) were searched from 2012 to 2022. Eligible studies evaluated an intervention involving video recording of adult patients (≥18 years) to support diagnosis, care, or treatment. All study designs and countries of publication were included. Websites of UK professional and regulatory bodies were searched to identify relevant guidance. The acceptability of video recording patients was evaluated using study recruitment and retention rates and a framework synthesis of patients' and clinical staff's perspectives based on the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability by Sekhon. Clinically relevant measures of impact were extracted and tabulated according to the study design. The framework approach was used to synthesize the reported ethico-legal considerations, and recommendations of professional and regulatory bodies were extracted and tabulated. Of the 14,221 abstracts screened, 27 studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 13 guidance documents were retrieved, of which 7 were retained for review. The views of patients and clinical staff (16 studies) were predominantly positive, although concerns were expressed about privacy, technical considerations, and integrating video recording into clinical workflows; some patients were anxious about their physical appearance. The mean recruitment rate was 68.2% (SD 22.5%; range 34.2%-100%; 12 studies), and the mean retention rate was 73.3% (SD 28.6%; range 16.7%-100%; 17 studies). Regarding effectiveness (10 studies), patients and clinical staff considered video recordings to be valuable in supporting assessment, care, and treatment; in promoting patient engagement; and in enhancing communication and recall of information. Observational studies (n=5) favored video recording, but randomized controlled trials (n=5) did not demonstrate that video recording was superior to the controls. UK guidelines are consistent in their recommendations around consent, privacy, and storage of recordings but lack detailed guidance on how to operationalize these recommendations in clinical practice. Video recording patients for direct care purposes appears to be acceptable, despite concerns about privacy, technical considerations, and how to incorporate recording into clinical workflows. Methodological quality prevents firm conclusions from being drawn; therefore, pragmatic trials (particularly in older adult care and the movement disorders field) should evaluate the impact of video recording on diagnosis, treatment monitoring, patient-clinician communication, and patient safety. Professional and regulatory documents should signpost to practical guidance on the implementation of video recording in routine practice. PROSPERO CRD42022331825: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=331825.

Klassieke psychedelica: veiligheid, neveneffecten en medicatie-interacties

Classic psychedelics: safety, side effects and medication interactions Given the growing scientific and social interest in the use of classic psychedelics for psychiatric disorders, physicians are increasingly confronted with patients resorting to these drugs. To this date, treatment with classic psychedelics within a medical framework is non-existent. Patients could seek such a treatment themselves by means of a retreat under the guidance of (non-)professionals in a non-official health facility in countries where the use of these substances is legalised. They could also go ‘underground’ in countries where these substances are illegal. It is important that physicians have an open conversation with their patients in order to adequately inform them and make a risk assessment. In this article, the safety, side effects and drug interactions of classic psychedelics are reported. Classic psychedelics are non-addictive and have a low toxicity. Their use under controlled conditions reduces the risk of serious unwanted effects, such as persistent psychotic symptoms, disabling flashback phenomena or increased suicidality. Under uncontrolled conditions and in the absence of psychological support, these risks are, however, real and thus the use of these drugs to treat psychological symptoms should be strongly discouraged. Interactions with other drugs are possible. This risk should be assessed individually for each patient, depending on the medication and type of psychedelic.