Quality Of Programs Research Articles

Parents’ Views on Quality Programmes for Children and the Risks and Benefits They Bring to Preschool Children’s Development and Learning

The aim of this study, which combines a qualitative and a quantitative approach, was to investigate by which standards Slovenian parents of preschool children define a high-quality children’s programme that can be watched on different screens. In addition, we were interested in parents’ views on the risks and benefits that programmes designed for children bring to the child’s early development and learning. The sample included 239 parents of children aged 1 to 6 years. The results show that, on average, children were exposed to screens at the age of two, but individual differences in both the age of first exposure and the frequency of exposure to screen content were substantial. Parents mostly used restrictive mediation to regulate their children’s screen exposure. Overall, parents attached great importance to the different aspects of quality children’s programme and rated aesthetic quality, entertainment and involvement as three very important elements. The standards by which they judged the quality of children’s programme were related to their education and the age of the child. They emphasised the positive effects of children’s programmes on the child’s emotional and language development, imagination and creativity, as well as on the development of social skills and play. On the other hand, the parents were most concerned about violent content, the modelling of inappropriate behaviour and the choice of words in children’s programmes.

The effects of Hakka bilingual programs on learning interests for kindergarteners

ABSTRACT To date, little attention has been paid to the impact of immersion programs on learning interests in a second language (L2). The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of two types of Hakka-Chinese bilingual programs (immersion vs. non-immersion) on L2 learning interests. Four kindergarten teachers (two in each program) consented to rate a total of 114 kindergarteners aged five years at the beginning and the end of the semester. By conducting confirmatory factor analysis, paired t-tests, and ANCOVA, results showed: (1) Kindergarteners’ learning interest in immersion programs could be differentiated into situational interest and individual interest, (2) The Hakka immersion and non-immersion programs both had positive effects on learning interest and (3) Both learning interests of kindergarteners in the immersion program were found to be inferior to that of kindergarteners in the non-immersion program when the initial differences in learning interests in these two programs were controlled. The results imply that the quality of a bilingual program is more important for cultivating an interest in second language learning than the percentage of time traditionally spent to differentiate between immersion and non-immersion programs (i.e. whether approximately 50% of the curriculum was used to teach a second language).

Structure and process in primary health care for children and spatial distribution of infant mortality.

To identify the spatial patterns of the quality of the structure of primary health care services and the teams' work process and their effects on infant mortality in Brazil. An ecological study of spatial aggregates, using the 5,570 municipalities in Brazil as the unit of analysis. Secondary databases from the Programa Nacional de Melhoria do Acesso e Qualidade da Atenção Básica (PMAQ-AB - National Program for Improving Access and Quality of Primary Care), the Mortality Information System (SIM), and the Live Birth Information System (SINASC) were used. In 2018, the infant mortality rate was the outcome of the study, and the exposure variables were the proportion of basic health units (BHU) with adequate structure and work processes. Global and local Moran's indices were used to evaluate the degree of dependence and spatial autocorrelation. Spatial linear regression was used for data analysis. In 2018, in Brazil, the infant mortality rate was 12.4/1,000 live births, ranging from 10.6/1,000 and 11.2/1,000 in the South and Southeast, respectively, to 14.1/1,000 and 14.5/1,000 in the Northeast and North regions, respectively. The proportion of teams with an adequate work process (β = -3.13) and the proportion of basic health units with an adequate structure (β = -0.34) were associated with a reduction in the infant mortality rate. Spatial autocorrelation was observed between smoothed mean infant mortality rates and indicators of the structure of primary health care services and the team's work process, with higher values in the North and Northeast of Brazil. There is a relationship between the structure of primary health care services and the teams' work process with the infant mortality rate. In this sense, investment in the qualification of health care within the scope of primary health care can have an impact on reducing the infant mortality rate and improving child health care.

Quality Measurement of Blended Learning Model in Higher Education: Scale Development and Validation

Objective: This study aimed to develop and test a scale for measuring the quality of blended learning models in higher education. Methods: This research adopts a sequential mixed-method approach to construct a new measurement scale. The first phase consisted of the inductive approach to identify the items, followed by exploratory factor analysis. The identified dimensions were tested for reliability and validity in the second phase. Results: The Blended Learning Quality Assessment (BLQA) contains 4 dimensions: Technology Integration, Pedagogy and Curriculum, Physical Infrastructure, and Educator Proficiency. The scale is comprised of 26 items assessing the quality of blended learning programs in higher education. The reliability and validity of the scale were established by confirmatory factor analysis (AVE > 0.6, Cronbach’s alpha > 0.85). Conclusions: In the face of changing student expectations of quality, this study introduces a comprehensive measurement scale by which institutions of higher education may effectively assess their performance. Implications: Results contribute to extant literature by proposing a comprehensive scale to measure the quality of an institution’s blended learning model. The scale integrates digital aspects of pedagogy, delivery, and infrastructure and can be used to identify the dimensions contributing most to student satisfaction.

Exploring the gaps between training and expected job skills of public health graduates to identify: A way forward.

To explore the non-alignment between what is taught in academic programmes for public health and what is actually needed or expected in the field. The qualitative phenomenological study was conducted from October 2020 to April 2021 in Karachi after approval from the institutional ethics review board of Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi. The sample comprised major stakeholders including representatives of public health institutions and organisations involved in the implementation of public health programmes. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions using a guide after content validation by an expert. Data was analysed using both inductive and deductive approaches. A total of 13 in-depth interviews and 5 focus group discussions were conducted. Regarding gaps in the process of curriculum development, 2 major concerns emerged; lack of comprehensive involvement of experts in different fields of public health in designing the curriculum, and the lack of incorporation of the feedback provided by students in revising the curriculum. Regarding the content of curriculum, three main themes emerged; theoretical nature of courses, lack of uniformity in all programmes, and poor local contextualisation. The casual approach of students and barriers faced by them in joining public health programmes also affected the quality of such programmes. Three broad areas of improvement were identified, which included improvement in curriculum, methods of learning, and improving students' approach.

Process Evaluations of Diabetes Self-Management Programs: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

To conduct a systematic review of process evaluations (PEs) of diabetes self-management programs (DSMPs). An electronic search using Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL (Ensco), Academic Search (Ebsco), and APA PsycInfo (Ebsco). Peer-reviewed, empirical quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method studies were included if they (1) were a traditional, group-based DSMP, (2) involved adults at least 18 years with T1DM or T2DM, (3) were a stand-alone or embedded PE, and (4) published in English. The following process evaluation outcomes were extracted: fidelity, dose delivered, dose received, reach, recruitment, retention, and context. Additional items were extracted, (eg, process evaluation type, data collection methods; theories; frameworks or conceptual models used to guide the process evaluation, and etc). Due to heterogeneity across studies, studies were synthesized qualitatively (narratively). Sixty-eight studies (k) in 78 articles (n) (k = 68; n = 78) were included. Most were mixed methods of low quality. Studies were typically integrated into outcome evaluations vs being stand-alone, lacked theoretical approaches to guide them, and incorporated limited outcomes such as dose received, reach, and retention. Future research should 1) implement stand-alone theoretically grounded PE studies and 2) provide a shared understanding of standardized guidelines to conduct PEs. This will allow public health practitioners and researchers to assess and compare the quality of different programs to be implemented.

Disruption Through Bricolage: Assessing the Efficacy of Social Entrepreneurs in the Supplemental Education Market

ABSTRACT This paper sheds light on the assessment of publicly funded privately managed supplemental education programs for pupils from migrant and low-income households. The paper positions the case study as a form of social enterprise characterized by bricolage. Drawing from existing literature on afterschool program assessment and entrepreneurship studies, the researchers identify the organizational characteristics and entrepreneurial logics that contribute to the program quality and efficacy. A mixed methods approach is adopted. The paper argues that bricoleurs disrupt the supplemental education market by creatively repurposing existing resources to develop an innovative form of homework support that is tailored to the needs of an underserved community.

Methods for assessing spillover effects between concurrent green initiatives

This research presents the methods that are used to examine the dynamics and potential spillover effects of various global environmental conservation programs. We specifically show the data and models that we use to analyze the interactions and mutual influences between the U.S.'s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), as well as those between China's Grain-to-Green Program (GTGP) and Forest Ecological Benefit Compensation (FEBC). Additionally, this study illustrates information about global initiatives, their interconnected impacts, and the associated policy strategies for environmental conservation. By utilizing multivariate regression, logistic regression, eigenvector spatial filtering, and scenario modeling, the research aims to understand the collective influence of these initiatives on broader environmental objectives. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for improving conservation policy designs and effectiveness.•Multivariate and logistic regression analyses to dissect global environmental conservation program interactions and mutual influences.•Eigenvector spatial filtering to address spatial autocorrelation and enhance the accuracy of the model results and our interpretations.•Scenario modeling to project potential future outcomes and impacts.

A Program Evaluation Study for Measurement and Evaluation Course in Distance Education

This study aims to evaluate the online measurement and evaluation course in teacher training programs during the COVID-19 process. In the study, we sought answers to two primary research questions: What are the opinions of teachers and school administrators regarding their measurement and evaluation competencies? Does the online "measurement and evaluation" course have the qualities of an effective program in the "antecedents, transactions, and outcomes" dimension? We structured the research into two phases within a multistage evaluation design framework. The findings show that there were problems and positive aspects in all dimensions of the program. For example, adapting teacher training programs developed before COVID-19 to distance education processes was challenging. In distance education, some practices contradict the modern teaching and assessment approach. Such problems were reflected in teachers' acquisition of measurement and evaluation competencies. The achievement test we applied to the observed groups also confirmed these findings. For this reason, responsible organizations should not ignore the fact that we cannot renounce distance education. During program development, they should reconsider how the teachers will acquire measurement and evaluation competencies and how we will measure and evaluate in distance education.

Configuration Analysis of Technology Readiness, Technology Acceptance, and Public Satisfaction Regarding Continued Induction Stove Use in Indonesia

In 2022, Indonesia began the energy conversion pilot project from Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) stoves to induction stoves in Surakarta. Before the program is scaled up, it is vital to conduct an in-depth analysis of the technology readiness, technology acceptance, and user satisfaction to assess program continuity. This research aims to identify what configuration of aspects of technology readiness, technology acceptance, and satisfaction will produce continuance intention and the necessary conditions of continuance usage intention. This study involved 412 conversion program participants in five districts in Surakarta, Indonesia. Utilizing fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), four solution configurations that lead to high continuance intention and four for low continuance intention were obtained. Generally, nearly all conditions must be maintained at a positive level to produce high continuance intention, especially innovativeness, and satisfaction. The research has theoretical and practical implications, including satisfaction having the greatest impact on configurations and the quality of the conversion program, in which the induction stove and its service program must become the main focus to ensure satisfaction. Clear policies and wider socialization must be conducted to enhance people’s awareness and trust. To boost sustainability and continuity, synergistic cooperation between stakeholders and the creation of a better environment for induction stove implementation must also be established. Future research should conduct a longitudinal study approach to strengthen the analysis of a long-term induction stove conversion program.

Prevalence, perinatal outcomes and factors associated with neonatal sepsis in Nigeria.

To examine the prevalence, perinatal outcomes and factors associated with neonatal sepsis in referral-level facilities across Nigeria. Secondary analysis of data from the Maternal and Perinatal Database for Quality, Equity and Dignity Programme in 54 referral-level hospitals across Nigeria. Records covering the period from 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020. Mothers admitted for birth during the study period, and their live newborns. Analysis of prevalence and sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with neonatal sepsis and perinatal outcomes. Multilevel logistic regression modelling identified factors associated with neonatal sepsis. Neonatal sepsis and perinatal outcomes. The prevalence of neonatal sepsis was 16.3 (95% CI 15.3-17.2) per 1000 live births (1113/68 459) with a 10.3% (115/1113) case fatality rate. Limited education, unemployment or employment in sales/trading/manual jobs, nulliparity/grand multiparity, chronic medical disorder, lack of antenatal care (ANC) or ANC outside the birthing hospital and referral for birth increased the odds of neonatal sepsis. Birthweight of <2500 g, non-spontaneous vaginal birth, preterm birth, prolonged rupture of membranes, APGAR score of <7 at 5 min, birth asphyxia, birth trauma or jaundice were associated with neonatal sepsis. Neonates with sepsis were more frequently admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (1037/1110, 93.4% vs 8237/67 346, 12.2%) and experienced a higher rate of death (115/1113, 10.3% vs 933/67 343, 1.4%). Neonatal sepsis remains a critical challenge in neonatal care, underscored by its high prevalence and mortality rate. The identification of maternal and neonatal risk factors underscores the importance of improved access to education and employment for women and targeted interventions in antenatal and intrapartum care.

Facilitators and barriers to asylum seeker and refugee oral health care access: a qualitative systematic review.

Objectives Asylum seekers and refugees (ASRs) encounter barriers when accessing oral health care (OHC). A qualitative systematic review was conducted to understand the perceptions, attitudes, behaviours and experiences of ASRs regarding their OHC. Themes were extracted to identify the barriers and facilitators ASRs face when accessing OHC.Data sources PubMed, APA PsycInfo, Cochrane Database, Web of Science and CINAHL were searched on 4 and 5 October 2022.Data selection Primary studies including ASRs of any age or nationality were included. Qualitative data of ASRs' lived experiences of oral health (OH) and accessing OHC were extracted. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme quality appraisal tool was applied.Data synthesis Data findings were extracted and meta-aggregation performed using inductive reasoning. A total of 13 primary qualitative studies were included. Three barriers were identified, including difficulty accessing treatments and appointments, cultural and language changes, and ASRs' lack of OHC knowledge or incongruous beliefs surrounding OH. Two facilitators were identified as good OH education and support from care providers or government.Conclusions Decision-makers should adapt policy to facilitate access to OHC and educate ASRs on OH. More research is needed to understand the barriers and facilitators to OHC for other people groups who experience health inequalities.

Patient Perceptions of Emergency Department Observation Care at Home.

Introduction: The Virtual Observation Unit (VOU) utilizes telehealth and community paramedicine to provide observation-level care in patients' homes. Patients' experience of this novel program has not been reported. Methods: A phone-based patient experience survey was administered to the patients who were admitted to the VOU at an urban, academic Emergency Department in the Northeast United States. The survey asked about patient's perception of the program's quality of care (0 = worst care possible, 10 = best care possible). t Tests with a Bonferroni adjustment assessed for differences between patient demographic groups. Results: The survey response rate was 40% (124/307). Overall mean scores for perceived quality of care were very high (9.51 ± 1.19). There were no significant differences in patient's perception of quality of care between demographic cohorts of age, gender, race, or ethnicity. Conclusions: Patient experience with a novel VOU program was very positive and did not differ significantly by demographic cohort. Further research is warranted.

Structural testing for CUDA programming model

SummaryGraphic processors offer an accessible solution for high‐performance computing, addressing challenges across various fields. The Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) programming model has emerged to enhance the performance of general‐purpose applications on graphic processors. However, developing CUDA programs is far from straightforward, and developers' lack of experience in parallel programming has led to numerous issues. This article presents a structural testing model and criteria to improve the quality of CUDA programs. These criteria facilitate the selection of test cases and aid in identifying faults. The ValiCUDA tool was developed to implement and validate this testing model and criteria. This tool instruments and analyzes programs, generating the necessary elements for each testing criterion. It also facilitates program execution and evaluation of criterion coverage. A statistical validation experiment assessed these criteria' effectiveness, cost, and strength metrics. The results demonstrate that the criteria can identify nontrivial faults in CUDA programs and assist testers in their testing endeavors for such applications.

Establishment of Maternal and Perinatal Database for Quality, Equity and Dignity programme: Processes, challenges, lessons and prospects.

Establishment of Maternal and Perinatal Database for Quality, Equity and Dignity programme: Processes, challenges, lessons and prospects.

Effects of a professional development programme on teachers’ classroom practices in Colombia

ABSTRACT The professional development for teachers is an important component of the quality of education. However, few systems for monitoring and analysing the quality and impact of teacher professional development programmes have been created. In this article, we present the effects on classroom practices of a Colombian professional development programme for in-service secondary mathematics teachers. We compare the teachers’ classroom practices of planning, implementation, and assessment, before and after participating in the programme. We found that the professional development programme shows a statistically significant and positive effect on planning, implementing and assessment practices. These results serve as evidence of teacher training policy in terms of changes in classroom practices.

Supplementary Vocational Education of Academic Staff: Opportunities and Problems of Implementation

The article deals with the problem of the involvement of academic staff (AS) of universities in the system of continuing education. The subject of the study is the possibilities and problems of supplementary vocational education (SVE) for academic staff of Russian universities. Based on the materials of statistics and analysis of documents (university development programs, regulations on advanced training), the objective aspects of the functioning of the university system of AS supplementary vocational education have been studied. The subjective aspects of obtaining supplementary vocational education are revealed on the basis of materials from semi-structured interviews with AS of universities of the Ural Federal District. The motivation for obtaining SVE, the needs for specific content and types of training, financing, and organizational conditions are analyzed. The key problems of the academic segment of the SVE system are revealed: reduction of the state financing of the costs of universities for the training of AS; commercialization of the university SVE system; the lack of guaranteed quality and diversity of SVE programs for AS; unsatisfactory organizational conditions for SVE of AS; inflexibility of the continuing education system in terms of taking into account the results of AS training. In a practical sense, the identified problems are directions for changes in the state and university policy of professional development of the AS in the context of the implementation of higher education development programs

Reliabilität des Strukturierten Dialogs in der gesetzlich verpflichtenden Qualitätssicherung

BackgroundQuality measurement in the German statutory program for quality in health care follows a two-step process. For selected areas of health care, quality is measured via performance indicators (first step). Providers failing to achieve benchmarks in these indicators subsequently enter into a peer review process (second step) and are asked by the respective regional authority to provide a written statement regarding their indicator results. The statements are then evaluated by peers, with the goal to assess the provider’s quality of care. In the past, similar peer review-based approaches to the measurement of health care quality in other countries have shown a tendency to lack reliability. So far, the reliability of this component of the German statutory program for quality in health care has not been investigated. MethodUsing logistic regression models, the influence of the respective regional authority on the peer review component of health care quality measurement in Germany was investigated using three exemplary indicators and data from 2016. ResultsBoth the probability that providers are asked to provide a statement as well as the results produced by the peer review process significantly depend on the regional authority in charge. This dependence cannot be fully explained by differences in the indicator results or by differences in case volume. ConclusionsThe present results are in accordance with earlier findings, which show low reliability for peer review-based approaches to quality measurement. Thus, different results produced by the peer review component of the quality measurement process may in part be due to differences in the way the review process is conducted. This heterogeneity among the regional authorities limits the reliability of this process. In order to increase reliability, the peer review process should be standardized to a higher degree, with clear review criteria, and the peers should undergo comprehensive training for the review process. Alternatively, the future peer review component could be adapted to focus rather on identification of improvement strategies than on reliable provider comparisons.

Evaluation of the Quality of Professional Training and Education Under the Standards of Total Quality Management

The total quality management standards in vocational training and education are crucial for reforming the vocational training system to overcome the shortage of skilled labour in the domestic labour market and diversify the country’s income by exporting surplus labour to foreign markets. To support economic growth, especially in priority sectors, it is necessary to adhere to total quality management standards in Vocational Training and Education (used in the process of Institutional and Program Accreditation of educational institutions in Libya and Algeria). The article investigates the compliance of vocational training and education in Algeria with these standards (based on the example of the Center for Vocational Training and Apprenticeship “Ould Cheikh El Arabi” in Relizane). The solution to this research problem is relevant, among other things, because, thanks to regulated state programs in such sectors as construction, public works and agriculture, the Algerian government has allowed construction and contracting companies to hire foreign labour from China, Turkey, Egypt and other countries, which has led to an increase in unemployment in the domestic labour market. That is why it is relevant to identify why the Algerian labour market cannot provide qualified labour to meet the needs of supplier companies and contractors. The study is based on the survey of a random sample of 150 students, 40.43% of the total number of students enrolled at the Centre. To ensure the clarity and coherence of the questionnaire, a preliminary study was conducted with a random selection of 25 students, eliminating linguistic and methodological imbalances. 6 expert reviewers confirmed the validity of the questionnaire content. Reliability was confirmed using Cronbach’s alpha test. The questionnaire’s content is structured according to five main criteria contained in the Total Quality Management Standards in Vocational Training and Education, each consisting of a set of indicators and measures to assess the fulfilment degree of the criterion. They evaluate the quality of educational and training programs (6 paragraphs), the quality of teaching staff (6 paragraphs), the quality of students’ affairs (8 paragraphs), the management quality of the educational institution (9 paragraphs), and the quality of structures and services (10 paragraphs). During the questionnaire, students expressed their opinion on the importance of a particular criterion using a five-step Likert scale. Based on the results, the arithmetic means, and standard deviations of the degree of students’ approval of the importance and fulfilment degree of each criterion as a whole and its individual paragraphs were calculated. The influence of these criteria on the dependent variable − the quality of training − was assessed using the Pearson correlation matrix. Based on the study results, several recommendations have been investigated to improve the quality management efficiency of training and education at the Centre.

Explainable artificial intelligence models for predicting risk of suicide using health administrative data in Quebec.

Suicide is a complex, multidimensional event, and a significant challenge for prevention globally. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have emerged to harness large-scale datasets to enhance risk detection. In order to trust and act upon the predictions made with ML, more intuitive user interfaces must be validated. Thus, Interpretable AI is one of the crucial directions which could allow policy and decision makers to make reasonable and data-driven decisions that can ultimately lead to better mental health services planning and suicide prevention. This research aimed to develop sex-specific ML models for predicting the population risk of suicide and to interpret the models. Data were from the Quebec Integrated Chronic Disease Surveillance System (QICDSS), covering up to 98% of the population in the province of Quebec and containing data for over 20,000 suicides between 2002 and 2019. We employed a case-control study design. Individuals were considered cases if they were aged 15+ and had died from suicide between January 1st, 2002, and December 31st, 2019 (n = 18339). Controls were a random sample of 1% of the Quebec population aged 15+ of each year, who were alive on December 31st of each year, from 2002 to 2019 (n = 1,307,370). We included 103 features, including individual, programmatic, systemic, and community factors, measured up to five years prior to the suicide events. We trained and then validated the sex-specific predictive risk model using supervised ML algorithms, including Logistic Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and Multilayer perceptron (MLP). We computed operating characteristics, including sensitivity, specificity, and Positive Predictive Value (PPV). We then generated receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to predict suicides and calibration measures. For interpretability, Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) was used with the global explanation to determine how much the input features contribute to the models' output and the largest absolute coefficients. The best sensitivity was 0.38 with logistic regression for males and 0.47 with MLP for females; the XGBoost Classifier with 0.25 for males and 0.19 for females had the best precision (PPV). This study demonstrated the useful potential of explainable AI models as tools for decision-making and population-level suicide prevention actions. The ML models included individual, programmatic, systemic, and community levels variables available routinely to decision makers and planners in a public managed care system. Caution shall be exercised in the interpretation of variables associated in a predictive model since they are not causal, and other designs are required to establish the value of individual treatments. The next steps are to produce an intuitive user interface for decision makers, planners and other stakeholders like clinicians or representatives of families and people with live experience of suicidal behaviors or death by suicide. For example, how variations in the quality of local area primary care programs for depression or substance use disorders or increased in regional mental health and addiction budgets would lower suicide rates.