Program Satisfaction Survey Research Articles

Building a Patient Navigation Program to Improve the Student and Patient Experience at a Student-Run Free Clinic

Introduction: Patient navigation programs improve patients’ access to care. The existing literature on patient navigation programs affiliated with Student-run Free Clinics (SRFCs) is limited. The Patient Navigation Program (PNP) was developed to give health professions students early experience in patient-centered care while helping patients overcome barriers to care. First-year student volunteers at our SRFC, the Delivering Equal Access to Care (DEAC) clinic, have limited opportunities to participate in direct patient care. A subset of our patient population faces additional challenges accessing health-related services, resulting in a need for coordinated care. This descriptive report describes a sustainable patient navigation program designed to improve the student and patient experience at an SRFC. Methods: One medical director and three third-year medical students supervised all participants. First-year students from the Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Physician Associate (PA) programs applied for Patient Navigator (PN) positions, and upper-level students from the MD and PA programs applied for Navigation Manager (NM) positions. Two mandatory student trainings were provided, one led by the program’s medical director and the other by an associate professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine. Patients were referred from the primary care service. A voluntary, program satisfaction survey was emailed to PNs at the end of the year. Results: Seven of the eight PNs completed their 12-month commitment and one PN transitioned into another DEAC clinic leadership role before the end of the year. Seven PNs completed the survey, and all indicated wanting to stay involved with the program in some capacity. Four of seven (57%) respondents were interested in continuing with their current patient due to perceived ongoing needs. Perceived impact of PNP on patients’ health includes obtaining additional health services, reliable transportation, and someone to discuss health concerns. Discussion: Over half of PNs joined DEAC clinic leadership at the end of their 12-month commitment, pointing to the potential of patient navigator programs to develop committed leaders at SRFCs. Building a sustainable program like PNP at another SRFC is feasible and has potential for meaningful student and patient impact.

중소상공인 패션제조 활성화를 위한 디지털교육 기반의 솔루션 앵커 실증 및 분석

This study aims to create a safe working environment and improve productivity in order to systematically support the improvement of working hazards and production and manufacturing working environments in small and underdeveloped clothing manufacturing sites. To this end, a digital transformation education program will be established in response to the fourth industrial era through the Seoul Fashion Manufacturing Production Support Center, which is based on Geumcheon, Seoul, where the fashion sewing industry, IT high-tech, and sales distribution coexist. Based on this, it aims to demonstrate through manufacturing safety education, sustainable ESG education, and program execution to create jobs, and to serve as an optimal fashion manufacturing support center through analysis and satisfaction research.
 Starting with two Geumcheon·Changsin Fashion Support Centers in 2020, a total of seven are in operation, including Dobong socks, Gangdong leather, Gaebong machines, Gangbuk fashion, and Seongbuk fashion. In 2022, the number of sewing companies in Seoul is 405 in weight districts, 257 in Seongbuk-gu, 187 in Gangbuk-gu, and 244l in Geumcheon-gu, and the number of sewing companies is 1,434 in Jungnang-gu, 663 in Seongbuk-gu, 558 in Gangbuk-gu, and 1,770 in Geumcheon-gu, with Geumcheon-gu having the largest corporate size and the highest employment effect. As for the production form of the sewing industry, shirts/sports clothing are dominated in the Jungnang area, small-scale multi-species production in the Dongdaemun area, and women's suits and shirts/sports in the Guro and Geumcheon areas. Through this, performance is analyzed through demonstration conducted from 2020 to 2022, and the results are reflected in the next year's mind map operation through a program satisfaction survey.
 Since the opening of the Seoul Fashion Manufacturing Support Center in October 2020, 76% of young entrepreneurs in Geumcheon-gu, Gwanak-gu and Mapo-gu have used small businesses in nearby areas, and 86.3%. Individual companies and corporations were classified for research and analysis, and the retention period of companies was divided into 5 years or less, 5-10 years, 10-20 years, and 20 years or more. Accordingly, the number of workers was classified and satisfaction according to the presence or absence of a tailor was investigated. At this time, we investigated the reasons for facility use, frequency of use, satisfaction with facility use, and satisfaction with facility use, and asked about plans for reuse rates to establish advanced education systems such as live commerce, YouTube, shopping live, and start-up space solution libraries that can utilize and activate spaces suitable for the digital transformation era.
 In order to revitalize the fashion manufacturing industry, which has been shrinking due to rising domestic labor costs and the relocation of related industries abroad, and to overcome difficulties, we want to secure competitiveness and foster infrastructure through system construction and education programs that respond to the digital transformation era.

The development, implementation and early learnings of a training program to advance interest in behavioral research careers among undergraduate BIPOC students majoring in psychology

ObjectivesBlack, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) remain underrepresented in research occupations. This report discusses a collaboration to train undergraduate BIPOC students in clinical research between a public health institute, two medical schools, and a historically Black College or University (HBCU). This nine-month program trained BIPOC undergraduates in research methodology, psychology, and addiction science, and immersed trainees in real-world research. The program included didactic seminars, experiential activities, and a mentored research project culminating in a poster and oral presentation.MethodsKey learnings, program satisfaction survey results, and preliminary outcomes from the first three program cohorts (N = 6 students) are presented. This program addressed several barriers hypothesized to contribute to the limited number of BIPOC students pursuing research careers, including mentorship from BIPOC faculty and financial concerns.ResultsStudents reported moderate to high satisfaction with the program and endorsed gaining new research skills. Limitations and future directions are discussed.ConclusionThe expansion of the BIPOC health and research workforce is an urgent priority given the importance of BIPOC professionals to the health of our nation.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04650386.

The Outcomes of an Interprofessional Simulation Program for New Graduate Nurses.

This study explored the learning outcomes of an interprofessional simulation program for new graduate nurses during their training program. It was a single-group, pre-test and post-test research design. Ninety-three new graduate nurses participated in the study. The Nursing Competence Instrument and program satisfaction survey questionnaires were used to evaluate the learning outcomes of the program. Data were collected between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020 in a medical center in Taiwan. It was found that four nursing core competencies were significantly higher after the simulation, including advancing career talents (t = 10.12, p < 0.0001), integrating care abilities (t = 10.19, p < 0.001), dealing with tension (t = 6.87, p < 0.0001), and leading humanity concerns (t = 6.86, p < 0.001). The average satisfaction score for the interprofessional simulation training among nurses was 4.42 out of 5. In conclusion, interprofessional simulation education can help novice nurses improve their nursing core competencies. The results of this study provide an important indicator for hospitals and governments when making policy and training programs for new graduate nurses.

Preventive health therapy and behavior outcomes from a brown bag medication review for older adults.

Morbidity and mortality associated with preventable diseases can be reduced with the use of preventive health services. We evaluated the uptake and retention of preventive health behaviors and management of accidental medication poisonings in older adults after a health prevention educational component was combined with a brown bag medication review. This study used a cohort design and was conducted in six urban senior centers and three independent senior living communities in Detroit, Michigan. Participants included 85 older adults (>60 years old) taking five or more medications with 63 participants returning follow up materials. Pharmacy personnel conducted brown bag medication reviews that were combined with a preventive health education component. Information was collected on medications, vaccinations, supplement use, and accidental medication poisoning management. Participants were given written recommendations on prescription medications and preventive health therapies to improve health and medication use. An investigator developed program satisfaction survey was administered immediately after the review. An investigator-developed follow-up preventive health implementation survey was conducted at least 3 months later to assess recommendation implementation. Participants' mean age was 75.9 ± 8.5 years. Fifty-six older adults had 124 recommendations in preventive health in total (1-5/participant). Eleven participants had no recommendations. Sixty-three participants (74%) returned follow-up preventive health surveys. Twenty-three percent of recommendations were already implemented with 34% planned to be done in the future. Poisoning management knowledge increased for 13 participants, reporting they would call the poison control center. The program was well received, with participants reporting high satisfaction scores (4.8 ± 0.7 out of 5). Brown bag medication reviews can be an effective method to promote the uptake of preventive health behaviors among older adults, but additional accidental medication poisoning management education is still needed.

SCiPad: evaluating telemedicine via iPad facetime for general spinal cord injury care

Study designUncontrolled clinical pilot study.ObjectivesTo assess usage, perceived impact, and satisfaction with a telemedicine program among individuals with spinal cord injury (tele-SCI).SettingCommunity-based.MethodsParticipants (N = 83) were recruited from acute SCI inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient SCI care at a community hospital to participate in a 6-month tele-SCI intervention administered by SCI subspecialty board-certified physiatrists via iPad FaceTime. In addition to monthly follow up interview calls, psychosocial and Quality of Life (QoL) measures were collected at baseline and post-intervention. A program satisfaction survey was also collected post-intervention.ResultsSeventy-five percent of participants engaged in tele-SCI visits (Median [IQR]: 2.5 [2.0, 4.0]) for a total of 198 tele-SCI visits. Bladder and bowel concerns were the leading topics discussed during tele-SCI visits, followed by neurological, pain, and functional concerns. Tele-SCI users resided further away (Median miles [IQR] – 114[73–177] vs. 81[46–116], p = 0.023) and reported seeking more clinical advice (Median [IQR] – 1.5[0–4.0] vs. 0[0–1.0], p = 0.002) compared to non-tele-SCI users. All other clinical utilization, baseline characteristics, psychosocial measures, and QoL did not differ among those who used tele-SCI and those who did not. The satisfaction survey suggested satisfaction with the tele-SCI intervention (89%), study equipment (89%), staff responsiveness (100%), and improved motivation for self-monitoring of health (71%).ConclusionStudy findings suggest that tele-SCI is a feasible modality for providing general SCI care. Further research is required to examine longer-term efficacy of remotely-provided care among individuals living with SCI.

Development and Effectiveness Verification of an Online Career Adaptability Program for Undergraduate Students.

This study developed an online career adaptability improvement program as part of the undergraduate curriculum to improve college students’ career adaptability and verify its effectiveness. This 13-week intervention program, developed using the Korea-Career Adaptability Scale (K-CAS), consists of three domains: (1) knowledge and recognition of the self and work environment, (2) self-directed coping related to career behavior, and (3) environmental interaction for career decisions and adaptation. Two sub-studies were conducted to achieve the research objectives: Study 1 included developing and testing a pilot program and Study 2 quantitatively analyzed the final program to test its effectiveness. In Study 1, preliminary program development and validity were verified, and in Study 2, the effectiveness of the final program was verified. As a strategy to achieve the research purpose, in Study 1, literature review and needs analysis, program design reflecting the results of the needs analysis, validity verification through Delphi survey, preliminary program implementation and evaluation, and the operation of the final program were performed. To test the effectiveness of the program in Study 2, a pre-posttest of career adaptability was conducted on experimental (n = 54), comparison (n = 56), and control groups (n = 53) using the non-equivalent group pretest–posttest design, followed by a program satisfaction survey. This study is meaningful in that it developed an online program to help college students improve career adaptability and identified its effectiveness. This study yielded two results. First, it successfully developed a career adaptability improvement program for undergraduate students, wherein the career development tasks, and the sub-factors of career adaptability were organically interlinked. Second, it verified the statistically significant differences in the career adaptability scores among the experimental, comparison, and control groups. The highest mean score was obtained by participants in the experimental group, followed by the comparison and the control group.

Success in College after Concussion with Effective Student Supports (SUCCESS): Persona Testing of a Peer Mentoring Program

Research Objectives To complete pilot testing of a peer mentoring program for college students with concussion. Design Mixed method cohort. Setting Outpatient specialty clinic; virtual platform. Participants Seven college students with history of concussion while in college, trained as peer mentors in the Success in College after Concussion with Effective Student Supports (SUCCESS) program. Interventions Peer mentors completed a two-level online training to prepare for mentoring. Personas were developed from case studies and portrayed by current college students trained as fictitious mentees to inform iterative program development. Five participants completed two cycles of peer mentoring with personas, and two completed one cycle. Cycles were 4 weeks and with unique personas. Mentors and personas interacted via chat, online meetings, and discussion boards. Main Outcome Measures Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS), Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS), academic measures, and program satisfaction survey. Mentors also provided program feedback in a series of three focus groups. Results PCSS scores and academics were stable, indicating no negative impacts on symptoms or academics. PROMIS scores showed a trend toward greater self-efficacy, and DASS showed a trend toward fewer mental health complaints. On a 0 to 100 scale, mentors indicated they would be very likely to recommend SUCCESS to a mentee (M=94.25, SD=9.84). Program features were also rated highly (M= 83.59, SD=18.24). Focus group feedback resulted in improvements to the virtual platform interface and program materials. Mentors reported feeling well-prepared and that they had provided positive experiences to personas. Conclusions Although no significant changes were observed on objective measures, trends were in line with expected results. Efficacy testing should further examine academic, psychosocial, and recovery outcomes in both peer mentors and student mentees recovering from concussion. Author(s) Disclosures N/A. To complete pilot testing of a peer mentoring program for college students with concussion. Mixed method cohort. Outpatient specialty clinic; virtual platform. Seven college students with history of concussion while in college, trained as peer mentors in the Success in College after Concussion with Effective Student Supports (SUCCESS) program. Peer mentors completed a two-level online training to prepare for mentoring. Personas were developed from case studies and portrayed by current college students trained as fictitious mentees to inform iterative program development. Five participants completed two cycles of peer mentoring with personas, and two completed one cycle. Cycles were 4 weeks and with unique personas. Mentors and personas interacted via chat, online meetings, and discussion boards. Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS), Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS), academic measures, and program satisfaction survey. Mentors also provided program feedback in a series of three focus groups. PCSS scores and academics were stable, indicating no negative impacts on symptoms or academics. PROMIS scores showed a trend toward greater self-efficacy, and DASS showed a trend toward fewer mental health complaints. On a 0 to 100 scale, mentors indicated they would be very likely to recommend SUCCESS to a mentee (M=94.25, SD=9.84). Program features were also rated highly (M= 83.59, SD=18.24). Focus group feedback resulted in improvements to the virtual platform interface and program materials. Mentors reported feeling well-prepared and that they had provided positive experiences to personas. Although no significant changes were observed on objective measures, trends were in line with expected results. Efficacy testing should further examine academic, psychosocial, and recovery outcomes in both peer mentors and student mentees recovering from concussion.

Reimagining the pipeline: Saturday Academy at New York University College of Dentistry goes virtual.

This study describes and evaluates efforts to transition an established pre-dental pipeline program to a remote platform, in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The semester-long pipeline program, Saturday Academy at New York University College of Dentistry, was conducted remotely through Zoom, and materials for hands-on, pre-clinical activities, were mailed to participants. Saturday Academy aims to educate underrepresented minority and low-income high school students about the college application process and the dental profession. After the program's completion, program applications and engagement data were analyzed. An anonymous online survey was administered to the high school student participants. The survey questions included topics about their interest in the profession of dentistry, satisfaction with the Saturday Academy programming, and program engagement. In its remote format, Saturday Academy had an average attendance of 87.8% at each session. All (60/60, 100%) of the high school student participants responded to the anonymous program satisfaction survey. Sixty-seven percent reported an interest in the profession of dentistry before participating in the program and 82% after participating in the program. Ninety-eight percent agreed with the statement "I enjoyed my experience participating in Saturday Academy." Additionally, 97% agreed with the statement "Saturday Academy's virtual programming was effective." There were no statistically significant differences in program satisfaction when data from the virtual program were compared to 2 years of in-person program satisfaction data. Challenges to fulfilling the missions of dental institutions in response to the coronavirus pandemic impact service and recruitment efforts, in addition to formal dental education. Transitioning pipeline programming efforts, with hands-on components, to a remote format is possible and was met with favorable engagement and responses from program participants.

Nutrition counseling and monitoring via tele-nutrition for healthy diet for people with spinal cord injury: A case series analyses

Objective To evaluate the effect of a tele-nutrition counseling program on diet quality, weight, waist circumference, and quality of life in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Design Prospective observational study. Participants Fifteen participants with SCI were enrolled from an acute inpatient rehabilitation unit and outpatient SCI clinic; ten participants completed the intervention. Interventions Six tele-nutrition counseling sessions over 3 months, utilizing videoconferencing and a photographic food diary. Outcome measures Weight, waist circumference, Life Satisfaction Index A (LSIA), Knowledge and Nutrition Evaluation with Supplement on Eating Behavior, and Program Satisfaction Survey (PSS). Results Ten participants completed both baseline and 3-month follow-up evaluations and were used in this analysis. There were no statistically significant changes from baseline to 3-month follow up in weight, waist circumference, Knowledge and Nutrition Evaluation, and LSIA (P > .48). Using the Supplement on Eating Behavior total score to measure overall changes in healthy food choices, 9 out of 10 participants rated their healthy food choices as improving (P = .008). A post-hoc exploratory itemized analysis on the Supplement on Eating Behavior revealed significant improvements from baseline to 3-month follow-up in participant’s self-reported choice of balanced meals (P = .008), reading food labels (P = .031), logging meals (P = .007), and monitoring portions of eating favorite foods (P = .031). Participants endorsed a 97-100% satisfaction rating in relation to perceived health benefits, equipment, and program satisfaction. Conclusion This study provides preliminary data suggesting that tele-nutrition is an efficacious intervention that may improve diet quality for individuals with SCI.

Effectiveness of a voluntary casino self-exclusion online self-management program

Despite evidence for effectiveness, only a small proportion of individuals with gambling disorder ever access treatment and support resources for their problem. Voluntary self-exclusion (VSE) programs are an ideal circumstance to engage individuals who are reluctant or have not yet sought formal treatment, given that individuals are already electing to prevent themselves from gambling through self-exclusion. The present study was a randomized controlled trial of a novel, online VSE self-management intervention.Individuals who chose to self-exclude at gambling venues (N = 201) were randomly assigned to participate in an online self-management program combined with VSE or to an in-person self-awareness educational workshop combined with VSE comparison group. Following a baseline assessment, participants were followed up at three, six, and twelve months via telephone interviews. Measured outcomes were gambling frequency and expenditure, problem gambling scores, problem drinking scores, type of goal set for gambling behaviour, quality of life, and treatment-seeking.The 12-month follow-up rate was 71% (n = 143). Participants in both VSE groups gambled less, spent less money gambling, and reported decreased need for formal treatment. However, there were no significant group differences on any of the primary or secondary outcomes. Only 30–35% of the participants completed their assigned workshop, depending on the group. Results from the online program satisfaction survey revealed that participants generally liked the program and rated the quality of the content highly, but thought there could be improvement regarding interactivity, variety, stimulation and greater clarity around registration steps and program objectives.The online VSE program is an effective alternative to the face-to-face VSE program. Although the outcomes between the two programs were not significantly different, the online program is easier to administer, able to reach more individuals since it only requires access to a computer and is based on motivational evidence-based principles of psychotherapy for gambling disorder.

Social prescribing as an intervention for people with work-related injuries and psychosocial difficulties in Australia

Psychosocial interventions that encourage optimism and connectedness can promote workplace injury recovery and improve wellbeing. A mixed-methods evaluation of a twelve-week program for injured workers in Sydney, Australia, explored three research questions: if a social prescribing approach contributed to (1) increased social and economic participation, (2) improved psychological functioning and quality of life, and (3) decreased health service utilisation. Retrospective analysis of pre- and post-intervention data was undertaken, involving quantitative indicators of social, economic, and health status using validated psychosocial assessment tools (n = 175). These findings were augmented with data from the insurance regulator (n = 177) and insights from link worker documentation of participant activity (n = 178), a program satisfaction survey (n = 167), and participant interviews (n = 44). The social prescribing program was associated with significant improvements in frequency and confidence in participating in social activities and returning to work, in all measures of biopsychosocial wellbeing, and in reducing health service use. Qualitative information identified a range of personal improvements, including greater self-awareness, social connections, and ability to cope with the effects of injury and employment loss. This is the first known Australian study to evaluate a social prescribing intervention for psychosocial rehabilitation for injured workers in Australia. These findings suggest that a social prescribing approach is effective, but further consideration of barriers, including workplace characteristics and procedural difficulties in accessing occupational rehabilitation services, is needed.

Implementation of a Low-Dose, High-Frequency Cardiac Resuscitation Quality Improvement Program in a Community Hospital

In 2015 the American Heart Association launched the Resuscitation Quality ImprovementⓇ (RQIⓇ) Program to address the urgent need to improve in-hospital cardiac arrest survival through a novel competency-based model for health care provider (HCP) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training. This innovation differs from the traditional Basic Life Support (BLS) training model by providing self-directed, low-dose, high-frequency CPR skill activities with the objectives of skills mastery and retention. A program implementation study was conducted at the first hospital in the state of Illinois to adopt RQI in 2016. The study was designed to evaluate implementation of the RQI program, CPR performance during RQI simulation sessions, and participant impressions at a community hospital. Quantitative data were evaluated based on psychomotor compression and ventilation performance. Quantitative and qualitative data were evaluated based on a perceptual CPR confidence and program satisfaction survey. Statistical analysis demonstrates significant improvement in HCPs' quarterly psychomotor CPR skill performance over a one-year period in first compression score, and first and highest ventilation score per quarterly session. The number of attempts to pass the ventilation skill session decreased between the first and fourth quarter. Survey results of HCPs' program perceptions 30 months post-RQI implementation indicate satisfaction with the RQI program and an increase in CPR skill confidence. Findings demonstrate that the RQI program for ongoing verification of BLS skill and knowledge provides improvements in HCPs' CPR psychomotor competence and confidence/satisfaction using an efficient and sustainable method at a community hospital.

Evaluation of a web-based fall prevention program among people with multiple sclerosis

BackgroundFalls are common and impactful in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) but currently there is no accepted standard of care for fall prevention in MS. Evidence supports that the in-person, group-based, Free from Falls (FFF) program is associated with both immediate and six-month sustained improvements in mobility and balance and a reduction in falls, but program attendance is limited by access to the class at a given time and location and by the cost and availability of trained facilitators. Therefore, we developed and evaluated an online, web-based version of FFF, Free from Falls Online (FFFO). MethodsThirty people with MS who reported falling at least twice in the previous two months were randomized to FFFO or to a control group. FFFO consists of eight weekly sessions, each with an instructional and exercise component. Subjects in the control group were given a brochure on minimizing fall risk, a letter was sent to their treating physician informing them that the subject reported falling, and these subjects were invited to use the FFFO program at study completion. Outcomes included baseline demographics, falls prospectively reported for the eight weeks of intervention and the following three months, and a program satisfaction survey for the active group. Regression models were used to test for associations between treatment group and fall incidence. ResultsSubjects’ mean age was 55.8 years, 70% were female, 73% had progressive MS, median Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score was 6.0, and subjects reported a median of two falls in the month prior to study enrollment. Although, in general, regression models demonstrated trends that those in the intervention group were less likely to fall than those in the control group, statistical significance was only achieved (p = 0.0038) with a post hoc model evaluating the relationship between the square of days and the probability of not falling. This model supported that those in the intervention group were slightly less likely to fall than those in the control group. This difference was most prominent in the first month of the study, less prominent in the following month, and not sustained three months following the intervention.User experience with FFFO was overall positive, with over 75% reporting the web-based program easy to learn and to use, 85% reporting the program was easy to follow, 62% reporting the material to be useful, and 77% finding the exercises to be a useful component of the program. ConclusionThis study supports the viability of online delivery of self-management strategies in MS, suggests that FFFO may help prevent falls in people with MS, and provides the preliminary data needed to verify the findings of this pilot study of FFFO with a fully powered randomized controlled trial in people with MS.

Evolution and expansion of a resident teaching and learning program sponsored by a school of pharmacy.

The evolution and expansion of a school of pharmacy-sponsored resident teaching and learning program (RTLP) are described. Since its establishment in 2012, Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy's RTLP has grown to include up to 12 residency programs in Alabama and on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and Florida. Program requirements include seminar attendance, teaching experiences and observations, and development of an electronic teaching portfolio. Residents are provided support and guidance from an assigned faculty mentor and from chosen teaching mentors in each teaching activity. A program satisfaction survey was developed to assess residents' reasons for RTLP participation and their views on the manageability of program requirements, the level of residency program support received, the usefulness of seminar content, and other aspects of the program. Resident feedback has been used by RTLP coordinators to modify and refine program requirements. Major changes have included a switch to alternative information delivery mechanisms, clarification of mentor roles and responsibilities, and a transition from longitudinal seminars to intensive workshop days. At the end of the 2016-17 residency year, the RTLP had hosted a total of 66 residents from 12 different residency programs, with a 93.9% retention rate and a more than 3-fold increase in total resident enrollment. Evolution of a school of pharmacy-sponsored RTLP was essential to meet the growing needs of affiliated residency programs while optimizing faculty resources.

Telemedicine using an iPad in the spinal cord injury population: a utility and patient satisfaction study

Study designProspective observational.ObjectivesTo explore participants’ experience, satisfaction, and utility of telemedicine.SettingSpinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation clinic at a county hospital.MethodsParticipants in this study received telemedicine appointments for routine scheduled care and/or urgent consults with a spinal cord injury specialist via iPad on FaceTime. Demographic changes, health care utilization, and medical complications were assessed. A Program Satisfaction Survey (PSS) was completed after a 6-month enrollment.ResultsTelemedicine visits included general follow-ups (51.25%), “multiple issues” (24.38%), skin (6.88%), bowel and bladder (5.63%), spasms (3.13%), and pain (3.13%). The PSS was collected (n = 45) and revealed positive results in perceived health, satisfaction with equipment/ease of use, and satisfaction with the program. Analysis of anecdotal comments revealed themes such as efficiency, convenience, and reduced barriers provided by telemedicine visits.ConclusionsThis study shows the feasibility and acceptance of a telemedicine intervention via iPad for individuals with SCI through positive PSS ratings and the wide variety of clinical topics addressed.SponsorshipCraig H. Neilsen Foundation.

A difference in priorities?

PurposeThis study aims to focus on survey reports of doctoral students’ experiences in the USA, providing a look at factors influencing “in the moment” decisions students make about persistence. Specifically, the authors investigate the reasons doctoral students consider leaving their programs, and how these reasons may differ for international and domestic students. The authors also examine international–domestic patterns by sex and by program of study.Design/methodology/approachAs part of a campus-wide doctoral program assessment, doctoral students and recent graduates at a large, public, Research I institution in the Midwest region of the USA are asked to complete a program satisfaction survey. Content analysis of open-ended survey responses is the basis of the analysis. Next, a code by committee approach is used whereby two members of the research team coded all open-ended responses and discussed discrepancies to reach consensus on all codes assigned, and to reduce individual biases. Each open-ended response is assigned at least one of 16 codes, with more than one code used as necessary.FindingsThe results suggest that, although both academic and social factors are important influences of doctoral departure in general, academic concerns – specifically, alignment with goals, career preparation and program structure – may be particularly important for international students, whereas social aspects – faculty relationships and program climate – may be more important for domestic US students.Research limitations/implicationsResearchers should consider conducting larger, multi-institutional studies in the USA, which would reflect a diversity of perspectives and experiences within the American context. Parallel studies of doctoral programs in other countries may be useful in identifying whether similar factors are found for international and domestic students attending those programs. Follow-up interviews could be used to further delve into and understand the emergent patterns from the surveys. The findings of such future studies have the power to inform programs and policies designed to increase the retention of both domestic and international doctoral students.Practical implicationsGiven that faculty/advising is one of the most important factors cited by both domestic and international students, our findings suggest that US faculty members may need to give more attention to nurturing supportive relationships with their advisees. Furthermore, American university administrators might consider changing tenure requirements and reward systems for professors to place more emphasis on cultivating positive relationships with advisees, publishing, presenting and writing grants with advisees, and providing high-quality mentoring for doctoral students. Doctoral-granting institutions should consider implementing regular program reviews that include surveys from doctoral students to help programs identify and meet their students’ needs.Originality/valueLikewise, while other research on international students’ doctoral experiences has been conducted, such as the relationship with their faculty advisor (Kim, 2007; Rice et al., 2009), single studies that focus on factors affecting the attrition of domestic versus that of international students’ remain limited. The purpose of this study is to address the following research questions: What factors contribute to doctoral students’ considerations of departure in the USA? How might these factors differ between domestic and international students? We seek to expand understandings of doctoral attrition by using larger-scale qualitative data to address limitations of existing studies that focus on the experiences of only a few students.

SCiPad: Effective Implementation of Telemedicine Using iPads with Individuals with Spinal Cord Injuries, a Case Series.

Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) must often travel long distances to see a rehabilitation specialist. While telemedicine (TM) for pressure ulcer management has been used in this population, real-time video telecommunication using iPad has never been described. The objective of this study was to provide specialized care for persons with SCI through TM consultation expediently in order to address medical needs, manage secondary complications, and to improve quality of life (QoL) of individuals with SCI. Ten individuals with SCI participated in the TM program using iPads for 6 months as a feasibility study at a single-center, county hospital. The participants contacted the project staff for SCI-related conditions and were then connected to an SCI-trained health-care provider within 24 hours via FaceTime. Main outcome measures included health-care utilization; QoL and psychosocial measures collected at baseline and at 6 months: Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNLI), Life Satisfaction Index A (LSI-A), and Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9); and a Program Satisfaction Survey. Ten patients (seven with tetraplegia, three with paraplegia; eight males and two females) with an average age of 34.4 (18-54) years were enrolled. The average baseline and 6-month follow-up scores were RNLI-70.1 ± 19.7 and 74.7 ± 21.8, respectively; LSI-A-25.4 ± 7.4 and 26.4 ± 8.2, respectively; and PHQ-9 were 6.8 ± 7.2 and 8.6 ± 6.1, respectively. TM encounters included topics such as pain, bladder and skin management, medication changes, and lab results. The Program Satisfaction Survey yielded positive results with 100% of program completers stating they would recommend the program and would like to continue having TM. This is the first known successful project using iPad to provide TM in the SCI population. This study discusses the implementation of such a TM program in a health system including limitations. It describes the clinical viability of TM using iPads in the SCI population for care beyond that of just pressure ulcer management. This project provides evidence for using a tablet device like an iPad as an effective and efficient patient management tool.

Changes in Self‐Leadership and Self‐Efficacy After Leadership Training of First‐Year Premedical Students

The purpose of this study was to elucidate to what extent the goals of the leadership training program implemented in a medical college were achieved. Study subjects consisted of 74 first-year premedical students at the College of Medicine of The Catholic University of Korea. All participants completed two questionnaires: an 18-item self-leadership questionnaire asking self-expectation, rehearsal, goal setting, self-rewards, self-judgment and constructive thinking, and a 28-item self-efficacy questionnaire asking preference toward difficult work, efficacy of self-control, and confidence before and after the leadership training program. Students also competed a program satisfaction survey after the program. The collected data were analyzed with a paired t-test, descriptive statistics by IBM SPSS ver. 20.0 (IBM Co., Armonk, NY, USA). Students’ overall satisfaction with the program scored 4.06 out of 5. The scores of self-leadership and self-efficacy increased after the leadership training program except for ‘confidence’ in self-efficacy. The results indicate that an intensive leadership program in a short period of time could help to enhance social competencies such as communication skills, empathy, self-reflection, and teamwork of premedical students.

An interactive multimedia program to prevent HIV transmission in men with intellectual disability.

The efficacy of a computer-based interactive multimedia HIV/AIDS prevention program for men with intellectual disability (ID) was examined using a quasi-experimental within-subjects design. Thirty-seven men with mild to moderate intellectual disability evaluated the program. The pretest and posttest instruments assessed HIV/AIDS knowledge (high-risk fluids, HIV transmission, and condom facts) and condom application skills. All outcome measures showed statistically significant gains from pretest to posttest, with medium to large effect sizes. In addition, a second study was conducted with twelve service providers who work with men with ID. Service providers reviewed the HIV/AIDS prevention program, completed a demographics questionnaire, and a program satisfaction survey. Overall, service providers rated the program highly on several outcome measures (stimulation, relevance, and usability).