Professional Institutions Research Articles

The process of developing a framework for code of ethics

Abstract Issue/Problem The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER) roadmap for the professionalisation of the public health workforce has noted ethics as a pillar for professionalisation. It also highlights the need for code of ethics and professional conduct for all public health professionals and institutions. The Global Network for Academic Public Health (GNAPH), in collaboration with EUPHA, ASPHER, and the UK Faculty of Public Health has been working together for a code of ethics. Description of the problem The WHO/ASPHER group asked for a framework to be developed by the expert group as part of the rollout of the professionalisation agenda. The objective of this work was to develop a guide that is applicable to different countries within Europe to develop their own of code of ethics and conduct. A modified Delphi approach to building consensus amongst professionals in ethics included law, academia, and public health professionals. The questions sought to be answered were what and how to develop a framework and what should be included in the guide for creating a public health code of ethics. Results Throughout this method we developed five values, and twelve principles that are essential for the development of a code of ethics through a consensus building exercise. This framework was the first of its kind as part of the professionalisation agenda for different regions. There will be ongoing work piloting this framework in practice with various professional groups and institutions. Lessons Throughout this process, the need and demand across the public health community for ethical education and development of code of ethics was made evident. Collaboration between academics, ethicist, lawyers, and public health professionals and policy makers were key in developing a public health code of ethics. Identifying the challenges with monitoring and evaluating of its implementation a public health code of ethics. Key messages • Ethics, and a code of ethics are an essential component of the professionalisation agenda of the public health workforce. • There is need for continued collaboration and partnership with public health professionals and institutions in enacting its implementation and evaluation.

11.Q. Round table: A Guide for creating a code of ethics for public health professionals and institutions

Abstract The professional discipline of public health is driven by its values. Public health professionals face decisions that have far-reaching ethical implications. Our norms, values, beliefs and the way we see the world, as individuals, communities and institutions which serve us, do matter and fundamentally affect our decisions, behaviours, policies, and practice. The ability to be aware and reflect on norms and values when taking decisions, is a decisive professional virtue in public health practice. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER) Roadmap for the professionalisation of the public health workforce, has highlighted ethics as an essential pillar for professionalisation, a core competency, and the need for a Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for good public health practice. In order to further advance the issue the Global Network for Academic Public Health (GNAPH), ASPHER, the European Public Health Association (EUPHA), the UK Faculty of Public Health and other partners set up an expert international joint working group on public health ethics and law (PHELWG). The PHEL expert working group - which includes senior public health professionals, ethicists, lawyers and academics - has been working to carry out research and develop a guide for creating a Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for public health professionals and institutions. This has included consideration of the competencies, principles and values for good public health practice. The project has involved literature review, research and the wide professional experience of the international group of experts who have been working on the issue.The development of a guide for creating a code of ethics for public health professionals and institutions is part of the overall objective of the PHELWG to build a ethico-legal competency, capacity and resilience of public health workforce. The proposed Guide and related resources will be a timely resource, practical tool and support for public health professionals, organisations, or regulatory bodies to develop their own local country code of ethics and build further ethico-legal capacity of their public health professional workforce and institutions. Purpose of the roundtable workshop will be to: - present the guide on creating a code of ethics for public health public health professionals and institutions, which will be launched at that time - Share the proposed ethical competencies/skills, principles and values for good public health practice, with particular consideration of Indigenous knowledge and world views - reflect and consult with the workshop participants around the guide and the proposed pilot sites for implementing the Codes in various centres. Key messages • Development of Code of ethics and professional conduct is a key requirement for public health professionalization. • The Guide for creating code of ethics by international expert group provides significant resource for development of codes locally. Speakers/Panelists Kasia Czabanowska Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands Farhang Tahzib Faculty of Public Health, Haywards heath, UK Paul Athanasopoulos Public Health Department, Stirling, UK

Assessing the accuracy and reproducibility of ChatGPT for responding to patient inquiries about otosclerosis.

Patients increasingly use chatbots powered by artificial intelligence to seek information. However, there is a lack of reliable studies on the accuracy and reproducibility of the information provided by these models. Therefore, we conducted a study investigating the ChatGPT's responses to questions about otosclerosis. 96 otosclerosis-related questions were collected from internet searches and websites of professional institutions and societies. Questions are divided into four sub-categories. These questions were directed at the latest version of ChatGPT Plus, and these responses were assessed by two otorhinolaryngology surgeons. Accuracy was graded as correct, incomplete, mixed, and irrelevant. Reproducibility was evaluated by comparing the consistency of the two answers to each specific question. The overall accuracy and reproducibility rates of GPT-4o for correct answers were found to be 64.60% and 89.60%, respectively. The findings showed correct answers for accuracy and reproducibility for basic knowledge were 64.70% and 91.20%; for diagnosis & management, 64.0% and 92.0%; for medical & surgical treatment, 52.95% and 82.35%; and for operative risks & postoperative period, 75.0% and 90.0%, respectively. There were no significant differences found between the answers and groups in terms of accuracy and reproducibility (p = 0.073 and p = 0.752, respectively). GPT-4o achieved satisfactory accuracy results, except in the diagnosis & management and medical & surgical treatment categories. Reproducibility was generally high across all categories. With the audio and visual communication capabilities of GPT-4o, under the supervision of a medical professional, this model can be utilized to provide medical information and support for otosclerosis patients.

New trends of export of vocational education from China within «One Belt, One Road» initiative

Introduction. Over the past few years, the authorities of the People's Republic of China have begun to pay more and more attention to the development of vocational secondary and higher education. In addition to the growth and development of this area within the country, gradually with the increase in China’s presence on the world stage, the PRC is beginning to export its educational services abroad.Purpose setting. The purpose of the study was to identify the features of China's promotion of its education abroad. The task is to examine the main forms of export of Chinese vocational education to foreign countries.Methodology and methods of the study. Using general methods of scientific knowledge and using a large array of factual data and sources in Chinese, consider the trends in the spread of Chinese vocational education in the world.Results. China has opened a new page in the development of vocational education both within the country and by experimenting with new formats of international cooperation in this segment of education. An example of such projects is the opening of the so-called Lu Ban Workshops, created in honor of the famous Chinese philosopher, engineer and artisan of the 5th century BC, which train modern specialists with technical skills. In total, China has launched over 40 similar workshops abroad with 70 different modern specialties, where more than 11 thousand people have already been trained. After the successful launch of Lu Ban Workshops, various Chinese professional institutions began to open their own specialized workshops, including those for the development of automobile transport, maritime economy, printing, etc.Conclusion. Such projects, which today cover both the SCO countries and the participants of the «One Belt, One Road» initiative, create a new platform for international exchange and cooperation in the field of vocational education and help promote humanitarian exchanges between China and other countries of the world.

Enhancing Reusability Practices in Massive Online Open Courses

Over the past decade, the emergence of Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) has profoundly transformed the distance learning landscape, capturing the attention of both higher education and professional institutions. This surge of interest has not only spurred the development of innovative teaching and learning methods but has also led to a re-evaluation of content production and reuse strategies. In fact, when producing MOOCs, multiple resources and efforts are dedicated to creating a considerable amount of learning material. This is often housed within the learning environment, which serves as a sort of repository and it is accessible by learners throughout the course. However, due to a lack of management support or internal organisational structure, the use of this material sometimes remains limited to the existence of the MOOC, causing it not to be actively employed and exploited after the course has ended. Lately, issues regarding MOOCs’ content management have raised critical questions about the long-term sustainability, reusability and management of the created online learning material even after the end of the online course. By using as a case study the three interlinked MOOCs on European History, Law and Governance developed in the framework of the KU Leuven programme in European Studies and the effort invested in both the planning and afterlife of the MOOC, this paper provides an overview of the formulas adopted to enhance learning content reusability. Drawing from KU Leuven’s extensive experience in creating humanities-focused MOOCs, this collection of interconnected online courses represents a novel attempt at offering a series of educational courses that are designed to complement each other not only in terms of content but also in terms of content management. Also, by contributing to the discussion on MOOCs' reusability this paper intends to emphasise the importance of establishing clear guidelines to enhance educational content reuse, ultimately contributing to the long-term educational value of MOOCs.

The Role and Impact of Investment Banks in the IPO Process of High-Tech Enterprises

As China's comprehensive strength continues to grow, new opportunities arise for the development of high-tech industries. An increasing number of high-tech enterprises are entering the capital market through Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) to raise funds, expand their scale, and enhance brand influence. Investment banks play a crucial role in this process. As professional financial institutions, investment banks provide indispensable services, including professional consultation, due diligence, and risk management. Additionally, investment banks can leverage resources from other industries to assist in the development of high-tech enterprises, guide them in standardized management, enhance brand value, and help these companies achieve stable growth in a competitive environment, ultimately bringing greater economic and social benefits.

Gender differences in the health workforce in China: an analysis of national data.

Gender differences in the health workforce matter for women's health and healthcare, and is also crucial for both health and economic development. Drawing on limited national gender data from China over the last 10 years, during which the country was undergoing a healthcare reform, this study dissects gender-related issues to identify existing problems, monitor progress, and develop strategies to promote change. Although women constituted the majority of health workers, they are predominantly engaged in service-oriented occupations. The gender distribution substantially differed between urban and rural primary health institutions. Moreover, significant differences in gender distribution among professional public health institutions were observed. The gender distribution of administrators varied in different types of health institutions. Women had lighter workloads because of the imbalanced distribution of specialties. Academicians comprised very few female scientists. To promote a more balanced gender distribution, policies should be developed to encourage a more reasonable division of family responsibilities. Further, equal higher education opportunities should be ensured for girls, especially in rural areas. Solutions to free more women from work-marriage-childcare conflicts and to decrease turnover rates deserve further discussion. Gender data should be highlighted and optimized to further advance gender differences among the health workforce and for women's health in China.

Humans and hazardous asteroids: 30 years of experience in education and communication

ABSTRACT What to say to the public about asteroid hazards and how to say it to them? In this article, we relate how our small professional research institution (Klet Observatory, Czech Republic), devoted specifically to Near-Earth Objects (NEOs), together with the educational branch (Ceske Budejovice Observatory and Planetarium, Czech Republic), has developed and implemented a comprehensive educational programme to communicate about our scientific activities. In the beginning of the 1990s, we started some NEO presentations just as a public outreach of Klet Observatory work and an explanation to taxpayers of the usefulness of such research. After thirty years of gaining experience, we understand that education of the wider public, students, journalists, emergency services and decision-makers on hazardous asteroids and planetary defence belongs to the most important tasks of NEO scientists and research institutions (Ticha, J., & Tichy, M. (2018). Klet observatory: 25 years of experience in NEO public education and communication. Journal of Space Safety Engineering, 5(3-4), 209–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsse.2018.10.002). This paper presents a case study of NEO and asteroid hazard educational activities in South Bohemia, implemented through the Observatory and Planetarium in Ceske Budejovice, influenced by the long-term Klet NEO programme. We will also mention locally specific connections to NEOs and our future NEO education plans.

Facilitators of and barriers to recognition of prior learning in higher vocational and professional education

ABSTRACT Recognition of prior learning (RPL) has gained importance as an instrument for promoting the permeability of education and training systems. Despite the many advantages at the individual and social level, such as supporting lifelong learning processes, previous research indicates that RPL implementation encounters various barriers at different levels. This study aimed to investigate the facilitators of and barriers to RPL implementation for access to higher vocational and professional tertiary education in Switzerland from the perspective of RPL providers. National and organisational framework conditions as well as factors at the study programme level were considered. Data were collected via a nationwide online survey covering professional education institutions. The sample comprised 156 persons responsible for 191 study programmes at professional education institutions in the fields of engineering, economics, healthcare, and social care. A logistic regression analysis revealed that RPL implementation for access to a study programme was most likely in the following contexts: less regulated professional fields, high workforce shortage, and favourable organisational RPL policies. Furthermore, the results suggest that the attitudes towards RPL held by those responsible are decisive in designing effective interventions.

Adequacy of Pharmacovigilance Training in the Health Professional Training Institutions in Uganda: Training Gaps and Opportunities for Improvement

Adequacy of Pharmacovigilance Training in the Health Professional Training Institutions in Uganda: Training Gaps and Opportunities for Improvement

INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TRAINING SESSIONS USING THE DUAL EDUCATIONAL FORM IN PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

The dual educational form integrates academic learning with practical training, combining the resources and opportunities of both educational institutions and industry partners. This model has been increasingly adopted in professional educational institutions to enhance students' skills and employability. This article explores the mechanisms, benefits, and challenges of the dual educational form, and provides practical recommendations to optimize its effectiveness in training sessions. The research identifies key factors such as curriculum alignment, industry engagement, and student motivation as critical to the successful implementation of this educational model.

METHODOLOGY OF FORMATION OF COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE IN STUDENTS OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: COLLECTION OF METHODS FOR IDENTIFICATION OF COMMUNICATIVE PROBLEMS

In the rapidly evolving world, communicative competence has become a crucial skill for students in professional educational institutions. This paper explores a methodology for the development of communicative competence through the use of a structured collection of methods for identifying communicative problems. Theproposed methods—“Communicative Problem Map,” “Communicative Problem Tree Analysis,” and “Communicative Problem Review”—are designed to provide students with a systematic approach to recognizing, analyzing, and resolving communication issues. By implementing these methods, educators can effectively prepare students for professional communication challenges.

Structural and functional model of formation of STEM-competencies of students of professional higher education institutions in mathematics teaching

Abstract This study focuses on the vocational preparation of learners in professional pre-higher educational establishments. The primary objective is to provide a theoretical foundation for, construct, and empirically evaluate the efficacy of a structural-functional paradigm for cultivating STEM proficiencies among students in these institutions through mathematics instruction. The pedagogical experiment corroborated the research postulate that attaining advanced STEM competencies in mathematics among professional pre-higher education students can be facilitated through a learning model that incorporates specific pedagogical conditions: motivating and stimulating students to engage in educational, cognitive and research activities in mathematics through engagement in cooperation and the use of individual and group coaching; implementation of STEM projects in mathematics teaching; usage of ICT to ensure visibility and research orientation of mathematics teaching. The experimental outcomes and accompanying educational resources have enabled a comprehensive analysis of the challenges associated with implementing STEM methodologies in mathematics instruction. This article aims to elucidate the key attributes of the devised structural-functional model and evaluate its implementation efficacy, with particular emphasis on the application of the authors’ developed pedagogical support materials.

Implementation of a pharmacist-guided pharmacogenomics dosing service at a rural NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center.

The goal of pharmacogenetic testing is to identify genetic variants with significant implications on drug safety and efficacy. Several professional organizations and institutions have demonstrated the value of pharmacist involvement in the implementation of pharmacogenomic services. Therefore, we aimed to establish a pharmacist-guided model for interpretation of pharmacogenetic results for all oncology patients seen at the Dartmouth Cancer Center (DCC) in Lebanon, NH. A pilot of a pharmacist-guided pharmacogenomics dosing service was implemented at the DCC. Pharmacy services included review of results from a next generation sequencing panel for DPYD, TPMT, NUDT15, and UGT1A1 variants. The pharmacist wrote a note in the electronic health record (EHR) detailing actionable drug-gene interactions and drug-dosing guidance, which was then routed to the treating oncologist. Outcomes collected included highlighting actionable mutations and defining pharmacist interventions. In addition, time spent formulating and documenting patient-specific drug-dosing recommendations was collected. From February 2024 through May 2024, a total of 71 patients with pharmacogenetic results, provided by the clinical molecular laboratory at Dartmouth Health, were reviewed by the pharmacist. The majority of patients tested were diagnosed with a malignancy of gastrointestinal origin. Twenty-one patients were found to have actionable variants in at least one of the four genes evaluated, and five of the 21 identified patients had active treatment plans for which dose changes were then implemented. Implementation of a pharmacist-guided pharmacogenomics based dosing service aided in optimizing drug therapy and has positioned Dartmouth Health for further expansion of pharmacogenomics and personalized patient care.

“The role of modern technology for safety and security management in construction sites in Kuwait”

The research aimed to investigate the significance of modern safety techniques in the construction industry of Kuwait. It found a lack of awareness among workers and organizations, hindering their implementation. The study highlighted the benefits of using modern safety technologies to address safety issues and recommended training workers, government support, and the involvement of professional institutions to raise awareness

Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete : The history and development of the product, its characteristics, uses and shortcomings

The media frenzy following the sudden closure of several schools in the summer of 2023 drew attention to the use of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in many public buildings in the UK, in turn spawning political debate as to why remedial action had not been taken sooner, whether chronic underinvestment was to blame, or whether successive governments had systematically cut corners by using cheap and short-life materials. Throughout this period the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and other professional institutions attempted to maintain a reasoned approach based upon factual analysis and developing knowledge as to the long-term performance of RAAC and the practical implications of its use. Despite poor experiences in the UK, RAAC has been, and still is, used extensively throughout Europe, the Americas and the Far East seemingly without the litany of failures identified in this country. This paper attempts to explain the history and development of the product, its characteristics, uses and shortcomings. Comment will be given on survey methodology, risk assessment and remedial works along with potential legal implications for surveyors and other practitioners.

Professional learning and knowledge ‘transfer’ in practice: Immigrant engineers reticulating the epistemic culture of the profession

It is known that skilled immigrants learn to integrate professionally. This paper complexifies this image. By following the experiences of ‘successful’ immigrants working in the engineering profession in Canada, it argues that immigrants engage in not only learning but also knowledge ‘transfer’. Their learning at work often starts as legitimate peripheral participation, and evolves through expansive participation in work activities. Meanwhile, they also ‘transfer’ knowledge and practices, a role that could be amplified given their transnational experiences. Immigrants’ learning and knowledge practices can also be understood as a sociomaterial process of translation, through which they knot together people and objects, while negotating power, position, and positionality at the same time. Through continuous learning and knowledge practices, the paper further highlights that immigrant engineers necessarily articulate themselves into, and to some extent, reticulate the epistemic ‘machineries’ or ‘culture’ of the profession, which is constituted through a nexus of professional associations, societies, institutions, and practice communities that are bounded by professional domains and interests, and lifeworld exigencies. Conceptually, this paper draws on practice-based theories and views continuous learning and knowing as an effect of the sociocultural and sociomaterial organization of professional practices.

Analyzing the performance of ChatGPT in answering inquiries about cervical cancer.

To analyze the knowledge of ChatGPT about cervical cancer (CC). Official websites of professional health institutes, and websites created by patients and charities underwent strict screening. Using CC-related keywords, common inquiries by the public and comments about CC were searched in social media applications with these data, a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) was prepared. When preparing question about CC, the European Society of Gynecological Oncology (ESGO), European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), and European Society of Pathology (ESP) guidelines were used. The answers given by ChatGPT were scored according to the Global Quality Score (GQS). When all ChatGPT answers to FAQs about CC were evaluated with regard to GQS, 68 ChatGPT answers were classified as score 5, and none of ChatGPT answers for FAQs were scored as 2 or 1. Moreover, ChatGPT answered 33 of 53 (62.3%) CC-related questions based on ESGO, ESTRO, and ESP guidelines with completely accurate and satisfactory responses (GQS 5). In addition, eight answers (15.1%), seven answers (13.2%), four answers (7.5%), and one answer (1.9%) were categorized as GQS 4, GQS 3, GQS 2, and GQS 1, respectively. The reproducibility rate of ChatGPT answers about CC-related FAQs and responses about those guideline-based questions was 93.2% and 88.7%, respectively. ChatGPT had an accurate and satisfactory response rate for FAQs about CC with regards to GQS. However, the accuracy and quality of ChatGPT answers significantly decreased for questions based on guidelines.

Survey on the current situation of human resources of professional public health institutions in Weihai City from 2021 to 2023

This study aims to promote the system construction of public health talent through understanding the status and identifying problems of public health human resources in Weihai City. A survey on professional public health institutions was conducted through questionnaires and interviews in Weihai City, and statistical analysis on the personnel structure, introduction, and turnover of professional public health institutions was conducted. There were 24 professional public health institutions in Weihai City, with a vacancy rate of 44.27% (1 367/3 088). Health professionals accounted for 68.09% (1 669/2 451) of the on-duty personnel. The number of health technicians in professional public health institutions in the city was 0.57 per thousand people. Among the 1 669 health professionals, the age groups≤35, 36-45, 46-54, and ≥55 accounted for 47.63% (795/1 669), 30.26% (505/1 669), 18.10% (302/1 669), and 4.01% (67/1 669), respectively. The personnel with bachelor's degrees and master's degrees accounted for 74.60% (1 245/1 669) and 8.09% (135/1 669). The personnel holding clinical medical, nursing, laboratory, and public health qualifications accounted for 61.34% (995/1 622), 28.30% (459/1 622) and 10.36% (168/1 622), respectively. Only 17.73% (296/1 669) of personnel held deputy senior or above technical titles, while 45.96% (767/1 669) held junior or below technical titles. About 70.10% (1 170/1 669) personnel held permanent positions, and 29.90% (499/1 669) held non-permanent positions. From 2021 to 2023, the employment rate of public health institutions was 65.51% (207/316), and the ratio of introduced and lost personnel was approximately 3∶2 (207/132).

Patronage Media in Post-Communist Mongolia

We provide a historically informed analysis of the media in post-communist Mongolia thirty years after the transition. In 1990, Mongolia chose a peaceful transition towards liberal democracy following the seventy years of the communist regime. Our analysis first establishes that amid the challenges and changes since the new constitution was adopted, a plural and commercial media system has undeniably been established. However, only a few established themselves as independent media with editorial, business, and ethical norms. While the plurality of media outlets created a media landscape aberrant from the socialist-time propagandistic media, the media market failures, along with rudimentary legal and professional institutions, contributed to the media instrumentalization and media capture in Mongolia.