Short Training Course Research Articles

Conversation circles – an inventive way to talk about and address migratory related mental health

Abstract Refugees in European countries face psychological stressors stemming from pre-, peri- and post-migration experiences. In Sweden, a mental health promotion program for newly settled refugees “Ways Forward - After the escape”, was tried out to mitigate the consequences of negative migratory experiences. The program included training of course leaders and implementation of conversation circles for participants, i.e., short in-depth courses for smaller groups led by a trained leader. The objective of the program was to equip civic communicators working within the Introduction program for refugees with the necessary skills to lead conversation circles on mental health in cities in the south of Sweden. During 2020-2023, 43 course leaders were trained and 55 refugees participated in conversation circles. The course leader training included 50 hours of training on themes of the program “Ways Forward”; health and well-being, loss and identity, grief and forgiveness, reconciliation and acceptance, stress and stress management, trauma and trauma-conscious care. The conversation circles for participants were given in 3-hour modules x 10 occasions. 1. How did the course leaser perceive the utility of the training for their work with the target group? 2. In what ways has the intervention assisted the participants in navigating their mental and well-being in Sweden? The results showed that course leaders acquired new knowledge and practical skills and tools to lead reflective conversations about mental health related to migration. Participants reported a higher awareness of mental health issues, less stigma, trying out new coping techniques and increased motivation to seek help. Short training courses for civic communicators on migratory mental health increased knowledge and gave new skills and tools to lead conversation circles. Newly settled refugees reported higher awareness, new tools and less stigma to talk about mental health following participation in conversation circles. Key messages • Short training courses on mental health related to migration increased knowledge and gave new skills and tools to lead conversation circles. • Newly settled refugees reported higher awareness, new tools and less stigma to talk about mental health following participation in conversation circles.

Point-of-care ultrasound to assess left ventricular ejection fraction in heart failure in unselected patients in primary care: a systematic review.

Heart failure (HF) is the most frequent cardiovascular pathology in primary care. Echocardiography is the gold standard for diagnosis, follow-up, and prognosis of HF. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is of growing interest in daily practice. This study aimed to systematically review the literature to evaluate left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) assessment of unselected patients in primary care by non-expert physicians with cardiac POCUS (cPOCUS). We searched in Medline, Embase, and Pubmed up to January 2024 for interventional and non-interventional studies assessing LVEF with cPOCUS in unselected patients with suspected or diagnosed HF in hospital or outpatient settings, performed by non-expert physicians. Forty-two studies were included, involving 6598 patients, of whom 60.2% were outpatients. LVEF was assessed by 351 non-expert physicians after an initial ultrasound training course. The LVEF was mainly assessed by visual estimation (90.2%). The most frequent views were parasternal long/short axis, and apical 4-chamber. The median time of cPOCUS was 8 minutes. A strong agreement was found (κ = 0.72 [0.63; 0.83]) compared to experts when using different types of ultrasound devices (hand-held and standard), and agreement was excellent (κ = 0.84 [0.71; 0.89]) with the same device. Training course combined a median of 4.5 hours for theory and 25 cPOCUS for practice. The use of cPOCUS by non-expert physicians after a short training course appears to be an accurate complementary tool for LVEF assessment in daily practice. Its diffusion in primary care could optimize patient management, without replacing specialist assessment.

Demographic status and training needs of aesthetic plastic surgeons in government and private hospitals: evidence from Guangdong, China

Purpose: This study aims to survey the demographic status of aesthetic plastic surgeons in an economically developed region and to investigate their continuing training needs in contents, training methods, and barriers in private and government hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional survey with a self-administered questionnaire was conducted from January to December, 2022 in Guangdong, China. In-depth interviews were conducted with key informants to gain insights on the current demographic status. Demographic data and training needs assessment were collected and compared with the chi-square test, Fisher’s test, Mann-Whitney U-test using R software. Results: The disparity of surgeons’ demographic data between private and government hospitals was small. Over 60% of practicing aesthetic plastic surgeons transferred from other specialties, and one third of them had less than three years of working experience. Half of surgeons attended training less than three times with an affordable expense of 1000-5000RMB. Almost 80% of them had strong willingness to attend a continuing training program. They prefer to attend further study in a tertiary hospital, with a short topic-focused training course and operation demonstrations. Their favorable training contents were rhinoplasty, eye surgery, and new technologies. Our questionnaire survey revealed the likelihood that the surgeons had a graduate degree in government hospitals outweighed those in private hospitals (P<0.05). Results also showed that the government hospitals focused more on repair and reconstructive surgery and academic research, whereas, private hospitals focused on market needs and were more profit-driven, where the organizational needs had influence on their different training needs for aesthetic plastic surgeons. Conclusion: It would be favorable to take the demographic status of aesthetic plastic surgeons and organizational needs into consideration in designing a continuing training program in plastic surgery.

Explore first approach in a virtual and immersive learning environment with ChatGPT

Explore first pedagogical approach promotes the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Promotes active involvement on the part of learners with the subject matter, which leads to exploring concepts through hands-on activities fostering a deeper understanding. The use of virtual and immersive learning environments (VILEs) in an educational context has raised interest among teachers and researchers. In this study, we design a short-training course supported by exploring first in a VILE. With this study, we investigate the perception of teachers who attended a short-training course about integrating VILEs in their teaching practice. Quantitative and qualitative methods have been used to collect teachers’ perceptions. Quantitative data were subjected to statistical analysis, and qualitative data to content analysis. The results excitingly reveal teachers’ openness to integrating immersive virtual learning environments in their teaching work and admit advantages. These teachers were interested in using immersive virtual learning environments as educational resources but recognized that they needed training to use them effectively. Therefore, it is thought that exploring first in an immersive virtual learning environment will contribute to distance education by online learning.

Evaluating a clinical mentorship intervention on maternal and neonatal complications in primary health facilities in Blantyre district, Malawi: A longitudinal analysis of the Global Action in Nursing program

BackgroundWhile Malawi has made great strides increasing the number of facility-based births, maternal and neonatal mortality remains high. An intervention started in 2019 provided short-course training followed by year-long longitudinal bedside mentorship for nurse midwives at seven health facilities in Blantyre district. The intervention was initiated following invitation from the district to improve outcomes for patients during childbirth. This study examined the impact of the intervention on the reporting of obstetric and neonatal complications and related care. MethodsPatient level data were collected from the District Health Information System 2 database from intervention and non-intervention facilities. Bivariate analysis explored the impact of longitudinal bedside mentorship on select District Health Information System 2 variables at six-month intervals. Outcomes were then analyzed using nonlinear quantile mixed models to better account for the impact of time and clustering at the facility level. ResultsSignificant changes were found in the reporting of obstetric and neonatal complications over time at intervention facilities compared to non-intervention facilities. Intervention facilities showed statistically significant increases in the reporting of prolonged labor, pre/eclampsia, fetal distress, retained placenta, and premature labor. There was also a statistically significant decrease in the reporting of no complications in the multivariate model (95%CI: −0.8 to −0.2). In both the bivariate and multivariate models, the reporting of ‘None’ significantly decreased (0.8 % median), while the reporting of prematurity (0.2 % median) and asphyxia (0.3 % median) both significantly increased. The missingness of data at intervention facilities decreased to almost zero compared to non-intervention facilities. DiscussionThe increase in reported maternal and neonatal complications suggests improved early identification of complications at the facility level. The improved accuracy of patient data from intervention facilities shows the impact mentorship has on data quality which is crucial for the allocation of resources. By highlighting the apparent dose–response relationship of longitudinal bedside mentorship, this study will inform the broader use of mentorship in training programs. Future research is needed to explore the impact of longitudinal mentorship on quality of care.

The Effect of a Short Training Course of Hysteroscopic Myoma Resection on the Non-Technical Skills of Gynecologic Surgeons.

To assess the impact of a hysteroscopic myoma resection (HMR) two-day training course on non-technical (cognitive) surgical skills among gynecologists. A 2-day educational course was held in which 95 consultant gynecologic surgeons and beginner infertility fellowship residents took part. Among all 80 participants (84.2%) had ever performed diagnostic hysteroscopy and 30 (31.3%) had performed non-resectoscopic operative hysteroscopy. The training program included instructive speeches, simulated surgical presentations, and a live hands-on myomectomy workshop. Non-technical skills were assessed two times, once before and the other after the course through two written tests with 10 multiple-choice questions for each. Concerning the 95 participants, 43 (47.3%) took the pre-course test and all of them (100%) took the post-course one. The mean score improved significantly from 3 (interquartile range [IQR], 0-4.0) to 7 (IQR, 5.0- 8.0) [bootstrap p<0.0001] for each of the randomly chosen pairings. The majority of candidates showed significantly improved cognitive skills after the HMR course despite their poor cognitive skills before the course. According to further analysis, there were significant enhancements in grades for all topics, especially regarding the basic principles of the procedure and management of complications (bootstrap p<0.0001). The odds ratio for the pre- versus post-course mean test results was 5.23. Due to the confidentiality stipulation, the pre- and post-course scores were not matched. A two-day continuing medical educational course could be efficient in improving the nontechnical (cognitive) skills for HMR.

The Effects of Short Online Pedagogical Courses on University Teachers' Conceptions of Learning and Engaging Students During Lectures

Pedagogical training has been seen as an efficient tool to train university teachers to understand and foster active learning. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a short online pedagogical training course on the development of university teachers’ conceptions of active learning from two perspectives: the role of prior knowledge and engaging their students during lectures. The effect of the training was measured through self-reports questionnaires of university teachers before and after the pedagogical course (N=108). The results showed an increase in the teachers’ perception of the importance of prior knowledge in the learning process and a decrease in the idea of learning as remembering. Additionally, the awareness of developing engaging lectures increased after completing the course. The outcomes indicate the benefits of short pedagogical courses for pedagogical development and especially for academics who have not had any prior studies on pedagogy.

Self-Administered Acupressure for Probable Knee Osteoarthritis in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

The effects of self-administered acupressure (SAA) on knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain remain unclear. To evaluate the effectiveness of SAA taught via a short training course on reducing knee OA pain in middle-aged and older adults. This randomized clinical trial was conducted among community-dwelling individuals in Hong Kong who were aged 50 years or older with probable knee OA from September 2019 to May 2022. The intervention included 2 training sessions for SAA with a brief knee health education (KHE) session, in which participants practiced acupressure twice daily for 12 weeks. The control group (KHE only) received only education about maintaining knee health on the same schedule and duration. The primary outcome was the numerical rating scale (NRS) pain score at 12 weeks. Other outcomes included Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index, Short Form 6 Dimensions (SF-6D), Timed Up and Go, and Fast Gait Speed tests. A total of 314 participants (mean [SD] age, 62.7 [4.5] years; 246 [78.3%] female; mean [SD] knee pain duration, 7.3 [7.6] years) were randomized into intervention and KHE-only groups (each 157). At week 12, compared with the KHE-only group, the intervention group had a significantly greater reduction in NRS pain score (mean difference [MD], -0.54 points; 95% CI, -0.97 to -0.10 points; P = .02) and higher enhancement in SF-6D utility score (MD, 0.03 points; 95% CI, 0.003 to 0.01 points; P = .03) but did not have significant differences in other outcome measures. The cost-effectiveness acceptability curve demonstrated a greater than 90% probability that the intervention is cost-effective at a willingness to pay threshold of 1 GDP per capita. In this randomized clinical trial, SAA with a brief KHE program was efficacious and cost-effective in relieving knee pain and improving mobility in middle-aged and older adults with probable knee OA. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04191837.

A comparison between the effects of simulation of basic CPR training and workshops on firefighters’ knowledge and skills: experimental study

BackgroundOne of the most common causes of death worldwide is cardiopulmonary arrest. Firefighters are among the first responders at the scenes of accidents and can, therefore, play a key part in performing basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for victims who need it. The present study was conducted to compare the effects of simulation training against workshops on the CPR knowledge and skills of firefighters in the south of Iran.MethodsThis experimental (Interventional) study was conducted on 60 firefighters of south of Fars province, Iran. The study was undertaken from March to July 2023. Through random allocation, the participants were divided into two groups: simulation-based training (30 members) and traditional workshop training (30 members). The participants’ CPR knowledge and practical skills were measured before, immediately after, and three months after intervention.ResultsThe findings of the study revealed a statistically significant difference between the pretest and posttest CPR knowledge and skill mean scores of the simulation groups as compared to the workshop group (p < 0.001). As measured three months after the intervention, the firefighters’ knowledge and skill mean scores were still significantly different from their pretest mean scores (p < 0.001); however, they had declined, which can be attributed to the fact that the study population did not frequently exercise CPR.ConclusionBased on the findings of the study, even though both methods of education were effective on enhancing the firefighters’ CPR knowledge and skill, simulation training had a far greater impact than training in workshops. In view of the decline in the participants’ knowledge and skill scores over time, it is recommended that short simulation training courses on CPR should be repeated on a regular basis.

Violence against junior medical doctors in Iraq: A trial for de-escalation

Background: Workplace violence represents a severe problem facing health systems in almost all countries globally. Communication failure is thought to be the major issue that initiates violence. Objective: This study aimed to test the effectiveness of a short training course for junior doctors on how to deal with patients’ aggressive attitudes in a trial to de-escalate violence against them. Materials and Methods: This interventional randomized trial was conducted in a sample of hospitals in Baghdad and Karbala governorates, Iraq, from August 2021 through July 2022. A pre-training survey was conducted to collect data from a sample of junior doctors (1079) to explore their exposure to violent attacks. The one-arm randomized trial measured the difference in exposure of 190 doctors to violent attacks during a comparable period, six months before and six months after the training. Results: Three-quarters (74.8%) of the sample reported exposure to lifetime violence. The prevalence of exposure to violence in the six months before the intervention was 66.8%, while six months after the training, it dropped to 53.2%, with a statistically significant difference. Conclusion: A two-day training proved effective in reducing violent incidents. This result indicates the necessity of starting a nationwide, wide-scale, regular, periodic training program for junior doctors to de-escalate violence. The findings of this study represent a message to policymakers to make more efforts to lessen violence against healthcare workers.

Evaluation of a short training course of chest X-ray interpretation for the diagnosis of paediatric TB.

Chest X-ray (CXR) interpretation is challenging for the diagnosis of paediatric TB. We assessed the performance of a three half-day CXR training module for healthcare workers (HCWs) at low healthcare levels in six high TB incidence countries. Within the TB-Speed Decentralization Study, we developed a three half-day training course to identify normal CXR, CXR of good quality and identify six TB-suggestive features. We performed a pre-post training assessment on a pre-defined set of 20 CXR readings. We compared the proportion of correctly interpreted CXRs and the median reading score before and after the training using the McNemar test and a linear mixed model. Of 191 HCWs, 43 (23%) were physicians, 103 (54%) nurses, 18 (9.4%) radiology technicians and 12 (6.3%) other professionals. Of 2,840 CXRs with both assessment, respectively 1,843 (64.9%) and 2,277 (80.2%) were correctly interpreted during pre-training and post-training (P < 0.001). The median reading score improved significantly from 13/20 to 16/20 after the training, after adjusting by country, facility and profession (adjusted β = 3.31, 95% CI 2.44-4.47). Despite some limitations of the course assessment that did not include abnormal non-TB suggestive CXR, study findings suggest that a short CXR training course could improve HCWs' interpretation skills in diagnosing paediatric TB.

Tackling Gender-Related Violence: How Can Theory Inform International Professional Education Projects?

Is it helpful to share feminist theory with youth practitioners and is there room for it on short training courses such as in EU Action Projects? Can theoretical work on intersectionality, and the concept of gender-related violence (GRV) which grew from it, be shared in training interventions with professionals who work with children and young people? This article is based on the findings of the EU co-funded GAP Work Project that sought to improve GRV intervention and referral through training for practitioners in everyday (rather than specialist) contact with children or young people in four countries. Summarising how the project worked, and how theory informed it, including a brief account of how the concept of GRV worked in practice, guides the selection of material from the wider Project Final Report and offers a reflection on how educators used theory in the training, sometimes explicitly in the sessions. It therefore contributes our experiences to discussions about the design and implementation of education and training about violence and abuse. It concludes by sharing resources for designing and implementing training on sexual harassment, violence and hate crime, including from other recent projects that offer resources for incorporating an intersectional perspective when developing local government plans, programmes, and projects.

Development, piloting, and dissemination of a suicide prevention brief online course for non-health professionals

Introduction: The use of online gatekeeper training resources facilitates the dissemination of useful knowledge and skills for suicide prevention with an integrated care perspective and a focus in the community, especially in a context of a pandemic and of limited human and economic resources. &#x0D; Aim: To develop and evaluate the impact of a short online gatekeeper training course in Spanish for non-health professionals in the community. To disseminate the course among this group of professionals as a free and easy to access online resource. &#x0D; Methods: An expert panel developed the training after the review of the evidence and available programs. Evaluation was carried out in two phases (Pilot 1&amp;2). In the 2nd pilot a greater variety of professional fields was included and the evaluation questionnaire was shortened. In both cases, a single group design of repeated measures (before, immediate post and 3 months post) was used as well as a one-factor analysis of variance with repeated measures. Participants responded to an ad-hoc online questionnaire which evaluated satisfaction, knowledge, self-confidence (pilot 1&amp;2), and attitudes (pilot 2). We consecutively recruited all interested professionals in the community who responded to an invitation email sent by the public health coordinators in the counties. A dissemination plan in 4 stages has been developed in coordination with Public Health coordinators. &#x0D; Results: Sample for the pilot was made up of 272 (53+219) professionals. Improvements in self-confidence, knowledge about suicide and attitudes were found, with statistically significant differences. Overall satisfaction with the training was 8.5 out of a maximum of 10. The dissemination phase is now starting. The aim is to reach as many professionals working with vulnerable groups as possible. Results of this phase will be available by May 2023. &#x0D; Conclusions: Results of the evaluation pilot are promising and suggest the usefulness of this training to improve professionals' self-confidence and knowledge about suicide prevention. The challenge is to make this training available to the greatest possible number of community professionals.&#x0D;

Do knowledge and personality traits influence women entrepreneurs’ e-commerce venture? Testing on the multiple mediation model

PurposeWomen’s involvement in business is growing and positively impacting the national economy, especially in developing countries. Women entrepreneurs’ success has shown women’s abilities to empower and support national policies and agendas. Efforts and tenacity in a consecutive e-commerce business require innumerable tactics since the business ecosystem has become more challenging and complex. Therefore, this study aims to identify the multiple mediation influence of the need for achievement and locus of control towards the relationship between entrepreneurial knowledge and women entrepreneurs’ e-commerce ventures. The theory of planned behaviour provides excellent opportunities for understanding and envisaging entrepreneurial actions. The study pre-supposes that the interaction of these variables ultimately defines women entrepreneurs’ e-commerce ventures.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a cross-sectional design, and the survey data were collected from 259 valid women entrepreneurs. The study population covers the Klang Valley area, composed of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Malaysia. The instrument used in this study was adapted from previous studies. Structural equation modelling was used to establish the measurement model and examine the direct and causal path models.FindingsFirstly, results show a positive relationship between entrepreneurial knowledge and women entrepreneurs’ e-commerce ventures. Secondly, the results show that the need for achievement and locus of control plays an intermediate role in the relationship between entrepreneurial knowledge and women entrepreneurs’ e-commerce ventures.Research limitations/implicationsThere are some limitations to this study. Firstly, the main limitation is that it is impossible to generalise the study’s findings since it only examines the sample in the Klang Valley area. Therefore, it would be better for future research to conduct similar studies in other areas. Next, the data were collected cross-sectional, and considering the changes in time that might influence human behaviour, future studies might consider a longitudinal research technique. Thirdly, this study model is limited; hence, future studies can advance and develop the current research model by including more variables, such as moderating and mediating variables.Practical implicationsEducation is one of the driving factors that help increase entrepreneurs’ knowledge and skills. Lifelong learning programs must be implemented for women entrepreneurs to increase their knowledge. The relevant parties, including the government, entrepreneurial bodies, training institutions and universities, must provide and develop a more affordable, flexible and inclusive short-course training program and activities for women entrepreneurs.Originality/valueEmpirical studies have proposed reconsidering the effect of entrepreneurial personalities for a better understanding of entrepreneurship engagement. These unique characteristics could act as an enabler for a capable entrepreneur. Many studies have examined the direct relationship between predictor and intention or between predictor and behaviour. Nevertheless, only a few studies have identified the influence of mediating variables in the theory-based framework. By adding the role of personality traits (i.e. need for achievement and locus of control), this study delivers fascinating insights into the current entrepreneurship research and literature. This study also makes a meaningful contribution to entrepreneurship literature, especially in Malaysia’s context of entrepreneurship ecosystems, considering there are still few studies on women entrepreneurship. This study also provides exposure and explanation of the function of the need for achievement and locus of control as the mediators for the relationship between entrepreneurial knowledge and women entrepreneurs’ e-commerce ventures.

INTENSIVE CARE SERVICE OPTIMIZATION FOR COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN ALMATY CITY

Since the beginning of the spread of coronavirus infection in the world, the number of infected has exceeded 102.5 million people, and more than 2.2 million people have died. In Kazakhstan, according to the world statistics of COVID-19, the 59th place in the number of detected cases of COVID-19 and the 68th place in deaths from coronavirus was noted. The vast majority of patients with COVID-19 have a mild or moderate illness, but 5% of those with a critical course of the disease require treatment in an intensive care unit. The length of stay in the intensive care unit averages 10.8 days, however, in 22.7% of patients, the duration of treatment in the ICU exceeds 30 days. In order to improve treatment outcomes, many clinics use a team work methodology that requires a sufficient number of highly qualified medical personnel. However, due to the shortage of personnel in intensive care units, measures are being taken to retrain medical personnel of other specialties. At the same time, short training courses do not always improve the results of treatment in a high quality and lead to a deterioration in the results of most patients.

Faculty Development Program in Nepalese Medical Schools: Past, Present, and Future Perspectives.

Teaching medical students is an art that requires expertise in the core content of the subject and specialized teaching techniques. Learning to teach medical students and teachers learning from those teachings themselves is a lifelong process. Short medical teacher training courses in various specialized teaching techniques lay the foundation for a positive teaching experience that can substantially impact medical education. The Faculty Development Program is one such training course for medical teachers, designed to be an essential step toward becoming a student-centered facilitator. This article sheds light on the current status and significance of the faculty development program in Nepalese medical education. It also offers suggestions and critical strategies to improve the program in the future with available resources and to integrate it further into medical education. Keywords: Faculty development program; medical education; Nepal; teacher training.

Radial artery occlusion after coronary angiography with trans radial access: a nurse led study employing duplex ultrasonography and the reverse Barbeau test.

Trans-radial access (TRA) is the recommended approach for coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Radial artery occlusion (RAO) is the most common complication. We examined the incidence of RAO by means of duplex ultrasonography (DUSG) and the reverse Barbeau test (RBT), after TRA in a clinical setting using conventional pressure dressings to achieve haemostasis. All radial artery patency examinations were performed by one dedicated nurse after a brief training course, we assessed the feasibility and quality of this routine in regular clinical practice. In total 97 patients undergoing first-time coronary angiograph and in some cases, PCI via TRA completed the study. Conventional pressure dressing as means of haemostasis was used. Radial artery patency was examined by DUSG and by RBT, before and at follow-up 1 month after the procedure. An inter- and intra-observer validation of the ultrasound measurements was performed before inclusion. Two cases of RAO (2.1%) were discovered following TRA. All RAO cases were detected by both DUSG and the RBT. Results from the inter-observer validation showed no statistically significant discrepancy between an experienced physician and a newly trained nurse operator (P = 0.403). An intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated at 0.89 indicating excellent reproducibility. In a high-volume TRA centre, we found a low incidence of RAO using conventional pressure dressing as means of haemostasis. The easy-to-use RBT detected all cases of RAO. Following a short course of training, a nurse from the cardiac catheterization laboratory was able to perform high quality DUSG examinations of the radial artery to assess patency.

Diversity competence training for health professionals in Europe: a modified delphi study investigating relevant content for short or online courses

BackgroundDiversity is a reality in our societies, requiring health professionals to adapt to the unique needs of all patients, including migrants and ethnic minorities. In order to enable health professionals to meet related challenges and reduce health disparities, long and demanding training courses have been developed. But due to busy schedules of professionals and often scarce resources, a need for shorter training courses exists. This study aims to investigate which topics and methods should be prioritised in designing basic diversity training courses that provide health professionals the opportunity to foster this competence.MethodsThe study provided an expert panel of 31 academic and clinical migrant health experts with the content and methods of an existing diversity training course. The panel was asked to prioritise training topics and teaching methods in a two-stage process, using an adapted Delphi method. In the first stage, experts rated 96 predefined items, commented on those items, provided answers to eight open-ended questions and suggested additional content for a short course. In the second stage, they commented on the ratings from Round 1, and rated new suggested content. Consensus for training topics was set to 80% and for teaching methods 70%.ResultsThe entire panel deemed ‘health effects of migration (pre-, during- and post-migration risk factors)’ to be important or very important to include in a short/online, basic diversity training (100% consensus). Other high-scoring items and therefore topics to be included in trainings were ‘social determinants of health’ (97%) and ‘discrimination within the healthcare sector’ (also 97%). A general trend was to focus on reflective practice since almost all items regarding reflection reached consensus. ‘Reflection on own stereotypes and prejudices’ (97%) was the highest-rated reflection item. ‘Opportunities and best practices in working with interpreters’ was the highest-scoring skills item, both on consensus (96%) and mean value (5.77).ConclusionsExperts’ prioritizations of teaching content and methods for diversity training can help the design of short (online) trainings for health professionals and reduce unnecessary course content, thereby fostering professional development and enabling diversity competence trainings to be implemented also when time and/or financial resources are limited.

Incubating factors in the home country and job satisfaction in a host nation: An analysis on cross-border labor

Understanding the factors that affect labor satisfaction in the home country and their satisfaction in a host nation is very important. Therefore, this study investigates the job satisfaction of Vietnamese workers who frequently travel to China for employment. It utilizes Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to explore the impact of external factors, particularly the support provided by their home countries. The survey collected data from 317 respondents randomly selected from lists provided by local authorities in three provinces adjacent to China, using a combination of face-to-face interviews and Internet calls. The respondents are individuals who regularly go to China for work. The study uses four main latent variables, consisting of a total of 17 measures that encompass both endogenous and exogenous factors associated with support from the home country. The findings indicate a significant influence of post-return quality of life and the acquisition of work-related skills through training programs on job satisfaction. Additionally, the regression coefficient value reveals a statistically significant negative correlation between job satisfaction and skills acquired through short training courses. However, no statistically significant relationship is found between the latent variable of media and employees’ job satisfaction. Based on the findings, this study suggests that policymakers and authorities should always assist migrants in reintegrating into their communities by supporting convenient registration procedures, providing relevant information, and giving necessary livelihood guidance. AcknowledgmentsThis article is an output of a research project titled: Cross-border labor at the Vietnam-China border area: problems, effects, and solutions, funded by Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.

Demographic status and training needs of aesthetic plastic surgeons in government and private hospitals: evidence from Guangdong, China

Purpose: This study aims to survey the demographic status of aesthetic plastic surgeons in an economically developed region and to investigate their continuing training needs in contents, training methods, and barriers in private and government hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional survey with a self-administered questionnaire was conducted from January to December, 2022 in Guangdong, China. In-depth interviews were conducted with key informants to gain insights on the current demographic status. Demographic data and training needs assessment were collected and compared with the chi-square test, Fisher’s test, Mann-Whitney U-test using R software. Results: The disparity of surgeons’ demographic data between private and government hospitals was small. Over 60% of practicing aesthetic plastic surgeons transferred from other specialties, and one third of them had less than three years of working experience. Half of surgeons attended training less than three times with an affordable expense of 1000-5000RMB. Almost 80% of them had strong willingness to attend a continuing training program. They prefer to attend further study in a tertiary hospital, with a short topic-focused training course and operation demonstrations. Their favorable training contents were rhinoplasty, eye surgery, and new technologies. Our questionnaire survey revealed the likelihood that the surgeons had a graduate degree in government hospitals outweighed those in private hospitals (P&lt;0.05). Results also showed that the government hospitals focused more on repair and reconstructive surgery and academic research, whereas, private hospitals focused on market needs and were more profit-driven, where the organizational needs had influence on their different training needs for aesthetic plastic surgeons. Conclusion: It would be favorable to take the demographic status of aesthetic plastic surgeons and organizational needs into consideration in designing a continuing training program in plastic surgery.