Trainee Program Research Articles

English

BACKGROUND Medical ethics is a system of moral principles that govern the practice of medicine. Ethical challenges frequently arise within the field of family medicine and may lead to complications. We wanted to assess the existing knowledge, attitude, and practice of family medicine trainees currently engaged in Saudi programs in relation to medical ethics in Riyadh. METHODS A cross-sectional study was carried out which encompassed a population size of 256 trainees from a total of nine different training centres. A self-administrated questionnaire containing 28 items was used. The questionnaires were distributed manually during the month of December 2016. RESULTS 208 subjects returned the completed questionnaires with a response rate of 81.25 %. Eighty-eight percent of those surveyed agreed that a knowledge of medical ethics was important in medical practice. The most common source of knowledge of medical ethics and law of work amongst the trainees was found to be "during training" in both medical ethics (71.2 %) and law of work (60.6 %). Significantly, only thirty-eight percent participants had knowledge about content of a Saudi law of practicing healthcare professions. Meanwhile, 63.9 % were unaware of the content of the Hippocratic Code whilst 88.5 % were unaware of the content of the Nuremberg Code. Finally, 93.8 % were unaware of the Helsinki Declaration. In measuring the total scores of answers in relation to ethical problems for different values, the mean score for all respondents was 34.98 out of 50, and 51.92 of residents, got a score ≤ 35. CONCLUSIONS The knowledge, attitude, and practice of trainees toward medical ethics was found to be inadequate. It is, therefore, essential to incorporate teaching of medical ethics into future residency program for trainees as a structured course. KEY WORDS Ethics, Bioethics, Family Medicine, Training, Residency

The Learning Curves for Transradial and Ultrasound-Guided Arterial Access: An Analysis of the SURF Trial

Historically, coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention involved accessing the femoral artery via palpation. However, recently there has been a trend towards using a transradial approach and ultrasound guidance for arterial access. Studies have shown that these techniques respectively improve major bleeding rates and access outcomes. There have been no studies conducted that assess the time it takes to train operators to attain proficiency. This sub-analysis of the Standard versus Ultrasound-guided Radial and Femoral access in coronary angiography and intervention (SURF) trial aims to assess the number of procedures required to attain proficiency in ultrasound-guided transradial and transfemoral access. The SURF trial randomised 1,388 patients undergoing coronary angiography and/or percutaneous coronary intervention into standard or ultrasound-guidance and radial or femoral access in a 2×2 factorial design. Operators who participated in this trial were required to have performed at least 50 standard and 10 ultrasound-guided punctures for each of transradial and transfemoral access. Cases were then chronologically ordered and stratified into groups of five, from which the primary endpoint measured was a progression in mean access time and first-pass success rates. Across all operators, there was a reduction in mean access time between procedures one to five and six to 10 with ultrasound-guided femoral punctures (60.5 secs-51.5 secs, p=0.029) and between procedures 11 to 15 and 16 to 20 ultrasound-guided radial punctures (74s to 62.5 secs, p=0.082). This trend was more obvious in trainees, with significant reductions in mean access time between procedures one to five and six to 10 from 73.5 to 53.5 seconds (p<0.001) for ultrasound-guided femoral access and from 99.5 seconds to 60 seconds (p=0.024) for ultrasound-guided radial access. There were no trends with standard transradial access. The numbers required to attain competency in ultrasound-guided femoral and radial access are 15 and 25 punctures, respectively. Fifty (50) punctures appear adequate for proficiency in a standard transradial approach. These numbers are useful in incorporating into training program for advanced trainees and interventionalists.

The immediate impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on burn-out, work-engagement, and surgical training in the Netherlands

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic led to major changes in health care and education options for all health care employees. The aim of this study is to achieve insight into coronavirus disease-care participation of surgical residents in the Netherlands, the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on the experienced quality of surgical training, and the influence on Burn-out and Work Engagement compared with the non-coronavirus disease 2019 period in January 2020. MethodsIn this study, we have conducted 2 digital surveys immediately before and 2 months after the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. We surveyed a validated Dutch questionnaire ‘Utrecht Burn-out Scale,’ derived from the Maslach Burn-out Inventory, and also collected the ‘Utrecht Work Engagement Scale’ measuring work engagement. Additionally, we describe the coronavirus disease-care participation of surgical residents, the impact on how they experienced the quality of their surgical training, and the influence on ‘Burn-out and Work Engagement’ compared with the pre-coronavirus disease 2019 period for surgical residents in the Netherlands. ResultsIn January 2020, a total of 317 residents completed the online survey, and in April 2020, a total of 313 residents completed the online survey. Of the responders, 48.6%, in April, participated in coronavirus disease-care in both the coronavirus disease ward as well as the coronavirus disease intensive care unit. Residents experienced that the coronavirus disease 2019 influenced their surgical training in 85.2% of responders. In only 5% of the residents did the pandemic not affect the exposure to surgical training in the operating theater. More burn-out symptoms were noted amongst coronavirus disease ward deployed residents versus no coronavirus disease ward deployment, (16.0% vs 7.6%, P = .06). The Work-Engagement questionnaire showed a significantly lower work engagement score of 4.2 for residents who were deployed in a coronavirus disease-care intensive care unit versus a score of 4.6 for residents scheduled in a coronavirus disease ward (P = .02). ConclusionThis study shows a significant impact of the first months of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on the Dutch surgical trainee program, with a major redistribution of residents with a decrease of surgical exposure and education. We emphasize the need for adequate guidance of all surgical residents and potentially lengthening the surgical training program.

Simulation-based VATS resection of the five lung lobes: a technical skills test.

Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) lobectomy is an advanced procedure and to maximize patient safety it is important to ensure the competency of thoracic surgeons before performing the procedure. The objective of this study was to investigate validity evidence for a virtual reality simulator-based test including multiple lobes of the lungs. VATS experts from the department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark, worked with Surgical Science (Gothenburg, Sweden) to develop VATS lobectomy modules for the LapSim® virtual reality simulator covering all five lobes of the lungs. Participants with varying experience in VATS were recruited and classified as either novice, intermediate, or experienced surgeons. Each participant performed VATS lobectomy on the simulator for three different randomly chosen lobes. Nine predefined simulator metrics were automatically recorded on the simulator. Twenty-two novice, ten intermediate, and nine experienced surgeons performed the test resulting in a total of 123 lobectomies. Analysis of Variances (ANOVA) found significant differences between the three groups for parameters: blood loss (p < 0.001), procedure time (p < 0.001), and total instrument path length (p = 0.03). These three metrics demonstrated high internal consistency and significant test-retest reliability was found between each of them. Relevant pass/fail levels were established for each of the three metrics, 541ml, 30min, and 71m, respectively. This study provides validity evidence for a simulator-based test of VATS lobectomy competence including multiple lobes of the lungs. The test can be used to ensure basic competence at the end of a simulation-based training program for thoracic surgery trainees.

Qualitative Study of Interprofessional Collaboration in Radiation Oncology Clinics: Is There a Need for Further Education?

Interprofessional education (IPE) is gaining recognition as a means of improving health care delivery and patient outcomes. A primary goal of IPE is improved interprofessional collaboration (IPC). The multidisciplinary team in the radiation oncology clinic requires effective IPC for optimal delivery of radiation therapy. However, there are limited data on IPE and IPC in radiation oncology. This qualitative study aims to characterize IPC in radiation oncology. Semistructured phone interviews were performed from June to August 2019 with radiation oncologists, nurses, dosimetrists, radiation therapists, medical physicists, and medical students across a single academic medical center and affiliated network sites. Interviews were recorded, de-identified, and transcribed verbatim. Resulting transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Seventeen interviews were performed with 4 radiation oncologists, 2 nurses, 2 dosimetrists, 4 radiation therapists, 2 medical physicists, and 3 medical students. Thematic analysis identified 4 themes: (1) management of the radiation oncology clinic, (2) potential impact of interprofessional training in radiation oncology, (3) current climate of interprofessional education in radiation oncology, and (4) creating an interprofessional training program in radiation oncology. Each theme elicited between 2 and 7 subthemes. From the analytical themes that emerged, it is hypothesized that misunderstanding professionals' roles can lead to communication breakdown, which creates less efficient clinic management and disorganized patient care. Although other medical professionals shadow physicians during their training, physicians are not learning about other professions in the same way. Interviewees from each professional category recommend a formal shadowing program for radiation oncology trainees at the medical student or resident level. Having structured opportunities for IPE is important given competing demands of learners during medical student rotations and residency. This study suggests an unmet need for exposure of radiation oncology medical trainees to IPE with the ultimate goal of improving IPC in the radiation oncology clinic.

Basic English Training in an Effort to Instill Student Interest in Entering Health Schools

English teaching quality is not distributed evenly throughout the region in Indonesia. The tendency is for students that live in big cities, they get more qualified English teaching than remote areas. In other side, Student who come from village are far from big city. Students expected that study at Health Education must have good English skill. It effects to Senior High School student unwilling to study at Health School because they have less skill in Basic English. Moreover, they didn’t have enough money to getting facilities to study more outside of school, although they need it. Finally their human resource capabilities are down. So, the Basic English skill need to improve to improve the human resource capability in the field of Englis.in this dedication, Basic English trainee will be given to students of MA Al-Istiqomah that need increasing of capacity. There are 8 meets by enjoyable studying, beside pretest and posttest. The result was English skill increase. But its need seriously study from the students so the English skill will be increase significantly. So English Trainee Program for students can help human resouces in English

Strategic Training in Transdisciplinary Radiation Science for the 21st Century (STARS21): 15-Year Evaluation of an Innovative Research Training Program

To evaluate the 15-year impact of a transdisciplinary research training program for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and clinical trainees focused on radiation science, entitled Strategic Training in Transdisciplinary Radiation Science for the 21st Century (STARS21) with a primary objective to build capacity in radiation research. Alumni (n = 128) and mentors (n = 41) who participated in STARS21 between 2003 and 2018 were sent an anonymized online survey designed to evaluate the program. Twelve alumni and 7 mentors also volunteered to participate in semistructured interviews. The transcribed interviews were coded and analyzed using NVivo12-Pro software. Alumni employment and publications were assessed from program records and by web-based search queries. Alumni are located in 11 countries, and nearly 90% are employed in a research-oriented career and continue to publish in radiation medicine- or cancer-related fields. Of those invited, 46 alumni (36%) and 12 mentors (29%) completed the online survey. Approximately 87% of alumni valued interdisciplinary collaboration, and 80% indicated that STARS21 had encouraged them to pursue such collaborations. Alumni emphasized that STARS21 assisted their career development, and the majority of alumni and mentors would recommend STARS21 to other trainees (4.48 and 4.58, respectively; 5 = strongly agree). The time invested in the program was perceived by mentors as worthwhile for the knowledge and skills gained by trainees (4.67; 5 = strongly agree), and 64% of mentors indicated that these benefits were associated with improved trainee research productivity. From the alumni and mentor perspectives, the valuable skills acquired from STARS21 included scientific communication (85% and 83%, respectively) and networking (83% and 92%, respectively). STARS21 is an innovative research training program that promotes interdisciplinary collaboration in radiation medicine research, which is valued by alumni and mentor respondents. Alumni can acquire important skill sets for career development, with a large proportion of alumni currently engaged in radiation research around the world.

Culture as a Hiring Criterion: Systemic Discrimination in a Procedurally Fair Hiring Process

Criteria used in hiring workers often do not reflect the skills required on the job. By comparing trainee performance for newly hired workers conditional on competitive civil service examination scores for hiring French public sector workers, we test whether women and men with the same civil service examination score exhibit similar performance in a job-related trainee programme. Both the civil service examination and trainee scores contain anonymous and non-anonymous components that we observe separately. We find that by the end of the trainee programme (first year of employment), women are outperforming men on both anonymous written and non-anonymous oral evaluations, a finding that holds both conditionally and unconditionally for the civil service examination results. According to further analysis, however, it is the anonymously graded essay on common culture civil service examination that, unlike the other CSE components, disadvantages women in this particular context.

A Practical Microscopy Program for Clinical Trainees : Utilization of E-learning System and Active Learning

A Practical Microscopy Program for Clinical Trainees : Utilization of E-learning System and Active Learning

Redeployed PM&amp;R Trainees Rely on Pro-Social Behavior during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Survey Analysis

The wellbeing and emotional resilience of healthcare workers are key components in maintaining essential health care services during the COVID-19 virus outbreak and beyond. This survey, distributed to physiatry trainees who were redeployed as general medicine physicians taking care of COVID-19 positive patients, sought to find out how trainees were dealing with the existing crisis and to identify their coping strategies used at this time of extreme uncertainty. Trainee wellness and burnout were objectively measured using the Physician Well Being Index (PWBI) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) respectively. Independent qualitative analysis was applied to the survey’s free response section, which revealed trainees predominantly relied on pro-social coping mechanisms during this time. It furthermore highlighted that trainees desired strong leadership and system wide initiatives geared towards increasing transparency and communication amongst staff. Investigating trainee response at a time of abnormal stress can help trainee programs and hospital systems determine how to implement future initiatives that proactively protect trainee’s mental health in the short and long term.

The UK Mentoring and Support Programme (MSP) for those considering a career in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS). A review of a ‘Register Interest in OMFS’ website and the MSP as two key resources created by the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons to promote recruitment and retention (2008–2020)

In 2008, to create a rapid route for information transfer in relation training and recruitment for OMFS trainees, the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (BAOMS) created a website to "Register Your Interest in OMFS" (RYIO). From 2011 a Mentoring and Support Programme (MSP) was created to provide focussed guidance for trainees aiming for specialty training. This paper reviews the effectiveness and cost of these programmes.Between 2008 and 2020, 1744 individuals used RYIO on 2715 occasions. Of these registrations, 1772 were by dentists, 193 dental students, 589 doctors and 161 medical students. 2354 were from UK and Ireland and 351 from the rest of the world. 188 registrants subsequently became UK OMFS trainees or specialists. All registrants valued the information provided. In response to RYIO trainee feedback the new ‘Taste of OMFS 2020’ programme was created.The MSP was originally called the Junior Trainee Programme (JTP). The MSP scheme provides a layer of mentorship/support which runs parallel to the medical/dental training post or period of study. Of 180 members of MSP, 72 have obtained specialty training posts in OMFS. There are 88 current members. Full information is available on the BAOMS website www.baoms.org.uk. Reviewing both programmes, participant feedback is excellent with tangible results whilst cost effectiveness is high.

Opportunities and challenges of e-learning in vocational training in General Practice - a project report about implementing digital formats in the KWBW-Verbundweiterbildungplus.

Background: The task of the Competence Centers for vocational training (KW) is to increase the attractiveness and quality of vocational (=post-graduate) training in general practice. For this purpose, they offer, among other things, a structured seminar program for post-graduate trainees in general practice (GP-trainees). During the Covid-19 pandemic the seminar program of the KWBW-Verbundweiterbildungplus® in Baden-Württemberg was converted to digital formats. The goal of the paper is to evaluate the acceptance by the GP-trainees and lecturers, to describe experiences with the conversion to e-learning and to derive recommendations with regard to the future orientation of seminar programs in post-graduate as well as continuing medical education. The implementation was based on a modified Kern-cycle and aimed at offering eight teaching units of 45 minutes each to a large number of GP-trainees. It tried to maintain the high quality of content and education as well as the interactive character of the previous seminars. For this purpose, the events were designed as synchronous webinars (six units) with asynchronous preparation and post-processing (two units) according to the flipped classroom method. The evaluation by the participating GP-trainees and lecturers was performed online using a multi-center developed and pre-piloted questionnaire.Results and discussion: N=101 GP-trainees participated in the evaluation of five individual seminar days in the second quarter of 2020 (response rate 97%). 58% (N=59) of the trainees were satisfied or very satisfied with the implementation. 82% (n=83) rated pre-tasks as helpful. 99% (n=100) would participate in an online seminar again. For 52% (n=53) of the trainees, the attitude towards e-learning had changed positively. The main advantages mentioned were no travel, save in time and costs as well as increased flexibility. The main disadvantages mentioned were less personal interaction and technical obstacles. The high acceptance of the new digital format showed the fundamental potential of e-learning in continuing medical education. The experiences can be a source of inspiration for other departments and KW. However, it also shows that important goals of KW, such as the personal interaction of the peer group, could not be achieved. In the future, it is important to develop a suitable mix of presence and digital formats with the aim to improve the attractiveness as well as sustainability of continuing medical education.

Foundation in OMFS: phase one of the newly structured version of the BAOMS ‘Junior Trainee Programme’ JTP

Introduction: Inspiring and supporting junior members of the OMFS team has been the JTP's aim since creation. Feedback from current JTP members felt a more structured programme with a new name would improve awareness and participation. Foundation in OMFS (FOMS) is the first phase of the updated programme, aimed at trainees from undergraduate level to pre-second degree.

Implementation of a Vertically Integrated Trainee Program (VITP): Progress and Lessons Learned.

Mentorship is vital in the effective progression of a physician's educational training. This journey often begins during a physician's undergraduate career prior to advancing on to medical school, residency, and fellowship training. These levels of training distinguish different tiers of mastery, and collaboration among these tiers is integral in order to facilitate a meaningful transition into an independent physician.

Nature and outcomes of sanctioned medical misconduct in six international jurisdictions: a case series.

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the types of medical misconduct, the practitioner, specialities and jurisdictions at risk, patient outcomes and the sanctions imposed. Methods This study was a retrospective case series of 822 adverse medical tribunal determinations in Australia, New Zealand, Canada (Ontario, Alberta), Pennsylvania (USA), Singapore and Hong Kong in 2013-17. Results Inappropriate medical care and illegal or unethical prescribing were the most common types of misconduct. Misconduct varied with practitioner sex, international medical graduate status, speciality and jurisdiction (P<0.05). Cases of inappropriate medical care were more common in Singapore (46.7% of all Singapore cases; 95% confidence interval (CI) 31.9-62.0) and among surgeons (47.6% of all surgeon cases; 95% CI 36.5-58.8). Illegal or unethical prescribing was more common in Australia (31.1%; 95% CI 24.8-38.2) and among general or family practitioners (26.9%; 95% CI 20.0-35.0). Misconduct not related to patients was more common in Pennsylvania (30.3%; 95% CI 25.2-36.0) and among local graduates (20.5%; 95% CI 17.1-24.5). Sexual misconduct was more common in Australia (29.6%; 95% CI 23.4-36.6) and among males (19.6%, 95% CI 16.7-22.8). Healthcare dishonesty was more common in Hong Kong (21.8%; 95% CI 14.0-32.2) and among surgeons (13.4%; 95% CI 7.2-23.2). The most common patient outcomes were patient risk (40.6%; 95% CI 36.1-45.4) and death and actual physical harm combined (31.2%; 95% CI 26.9-35.7). Sanctions were most commonly suspension or deregistration. Deregistration was most common in cases of sexual misconduct. Conclusion Medical misconduct varies widely. Risk factors for particular misconduct types are apparent among jurisdictions and practitioner characteristics. The nature of patient harm varied by type of misconduct, with illegal unethical prescribing commonly leading to drug dependency and sexual misconduct leading to psychiatric injury. What is known about the topic? Medical misconduct is a continuing problem. Tribunals and medical boards sanction misconduct to protect patient safety and public trust. What does this paper add? Tribunals and boards differ in misconduct reporting and permitting public access to determinations. Types of misconduct vary between international jurisdictions, practitioner sex, international graduate status and speciality. Risk and physical injury (including death) are the most common patient outcomes. The nature of patient harm varied by type of misconduct, with illegal unethical prescribing commonly leading to drug dependency and sexual misconduct leading to psychiatric injury. What are the implications for practitioners? Medical colleges should tailor trainee programs to address the common types of misconduct within their specialities. Standardisation of misconduct reporting, and report access, across jurisdictions would facilitate ongoing surveillance and intervention evaluation.

Physician Mental Health During COVID-19: A Call to Action

Physician Mental Health During COVID-19: A Call to Action

Qualitative Study of Interprofessional Collaboration in Radiation Oncology Clinics: Is There a Need for Interprofessional Education?

Interprofessional education (IPE) is gaining recognition as a means of improving healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. A primary goal of IPE is improved interprofessional collaboration (IPC). The multidisciplinary team in the radiation oncology clinic requires effective IPC for optimal delivery of radiotherapy. However, there are limited data on IPE and IPC in radiation oncology. This qualitative study aims to characterize IPC and IPE in radiation oncology. Semi-structured phone interviews with radiation oncologists, nurses, dosimetrists, radiation therapists, medical physicists, and medical students across a single academic medical center and affiliated network sites were performed from June to August 2019. Interviews were recorded, de-identified, and transcribed verbatim. Resulting transcripts were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory methodology. Seventeen interviews were performed with four radiation oncologists, two nurses, two dosimetrists, four radiation therapists, two medical physicists, and three medical students. Grounded theory analysis identified four themes: 1) Management of the radiation oncology clinic, 2) Current climate of interprofessional education in radiation oncology, 3) Potential impact of interprofessional training in radiation oncology, and 4) Creating an interprofessional training program in radiation oncology. Each theme elicited between 2-7 subthemes. From the analytical themes that emerged, it is hypothesized that misunderstanding radiation oncology health professionals’ roles can lead to communication breakdown, which creates less efficient clinic management and disorganized patient care. While other radiation oncology professionals shadow physicians during their training, physicians are not learning about these professions in the same way. Interviewees from each professional category recommend a formal shadowing program for radiation oncology medical trainees at the resident or medical student level. Having structured opportunities for IPE is important given competing demands of learners during residency and medical student rotations. This study suggests an unmet need for exposure of radiation oncology medical trainees to IPE with the ultimate goal of improving IPC in the radiation oncology clinic.

Leveraging Local Expertise in Stewardship, Hospital Epidemiology and Public Health to Enrich Postgraduate Training in NYC

Background: New York City is a gateway for emerging pathogens and global threats. In 2013, faculty from Montefiore Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering developed a free half-day workshop for postgraduate trainees in antimicrobial stewardship (AS), infection prevention (IP), hospital epidemiology, and public health. This annual workshop, sponsored by the Infectious Diseases Society of New York (IDSNY), incorporates case studies and expert panel discussions on timely topics such as Ebola, Candida auris, Clostridiodes difficile, measles, nosocomial influenza, drug shortages, and AS/IP “big data.” Methods: From 2013 through 2017, the workshop involved 10–15 interactive AS/IP cases with audience response questions and panel discussions. In 2018–2019, based on feedback, the format was revised to emphasize breakout sessions in which participants actively practiced AS/IP tools, (eg, medication utilization evaluations, epidemiologic curves, and performance improvement devices). Examples of 2018–2019 cases are shown in Figure 1. A pre- and postseminar paper survey was conducted yearly to understand baseline training in AS/IP, desire for future AS/IP careers, and self-reported effectiveness of the workshop. Results: Initially, the primary audience was NYC ID fellows. From 2018 onward, we opened enrollment to pharmacy residents. Approximately 45 NYC ID fellows were eligible for the course each year. Results from 2013 to 2016 surveys were reported previously (Fig. 2). There were 32 attendees in 2018, 42 in 2019. The survey response rate was 88% in 2018 and 95% in 2019, with 68 (92%) total participants. Most participants had received previous training in IP (82%) and AS (94%) (Fig. 3). Most participants reported that the program was a good supplement to their ID training (98%) and that case studies were an effective means of learning IP (100%) and AS (98%). Furthermore, 92% stated they would like additional AS/IP training, and many since 2013 have requested a full-day course. Self-reported interest in future involvement in AS/IP increased after the workshop: IP, 68%–83% (P =.04) and AS, 88%–91% (P = .61). Conclusions: Most trainees reported satisfaction with the workshop and case-study learning method; interest in future AS/IP careers increased after the seminar. We intend to explore Funding: to expand to a full-day program for all NYC postgraduate trainees and AS/IP junior faculty. As such, we hope to obtain the endorsement of professional societies such as SHEA. This workshop could address a crucial educational gap in AS/IP postgraduate training and help sustain our future workforce.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

Transforming graduates into successful hotel management trainees: Exploring important management trainee competencies

ABSTRACT Hotel management trainee (MT) programs have ubiquitously been adopted by the hotel industry. However, the knowledge of important MT competencies has not been updated for almost a decade to respond to changes in the current generations of MTs and their managers. This study chooses Thailand as a research setting due to its emerging challenges in MT programs. This study aims to investigate (1) the key challenges faced by Thai MTs, (2) the crucial competency set for MTs, and (3) the MT competency gap from the points of view of MTs and educators. Data derived from interviews with 10 successful MTs and 10 educators demonstrate gaps in the challenges and MT competencies. Research findings suggest the following: 1) Generation gap has some influences on the perception toward the required MT competencies. 2) “Adaptability,” “Leadership skills,” “Listening to feedback from others” are top three characteristics for MTs under the Thai context. 3) Although educators emphasize critical thinking, strategic positioning and industry-specific knowledge, MT hoteliers highly focus on self-management, communication and leadership domains. Recommendations on curriculum adjustment to decrease the MT competency gap between two stakeholders and the implication on the MT program are suggested to educators and hoteliers.

Can conditional grants attract better students? Evidence from Chinese teachers’ colleges

This paper examines whether a conditional grant program for teacher trainees helped attract better students to teaching majors in Chinese universities. The Free Education for Future Teachers program implemented in top teachers’ colleges provides tuition exemption and a generous stipend package to students in teaching majors under the condition that the recipients teach in their home provinces after graduation. By comparing score changes between teaching and nonteaching (“regular”) majors and between program colleges and nonprogram teachers’ colleges, we find that this grant program helps attract students scoring 0.4–0.5 percentiles higher in the score distribution to teaching majors. Further analysis shows that the program impact is stronger in places where more students are likely to be credit-constrained. Our results suggest that conditional grants targeting university-based teacher training programs are effective in improving the selection of teachers.