Individual Skills Research Articles

Evaluation of “Paper Chase”: Enhancing research dissemination and collaborative writing skills

We use Paper Chase as a team science model to engage interdisciplinary learners in research. Paper Chase is a structured collaborative writing approach for rapidly disseminating research findings and serves as a collaborative active learning professional development program for students at a southeastern university. We evaluated the impacts across 2 years of campus-wide Paper Chase trainings (virtual and in-person). Data was collected 1 to 2 years following participation. Trained research assistants unaffiliated with the Paper Chase program conducted semi-structured interviews with a sample of past participants who were undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty. We analyzed the 21 interviews using thematic analyses. Participants described immediate impacts: training/structure of Paper Chase, mentorship, and scientific integration. Intermediate impacts included teamwork, attitudes toward teamwork, writing skills, and publications. Longer-term impacts were career influences. These findings suggest that Paper Chase active learning exercise fosters favorable changes in individual attitudes and skills and interpersonal skills among participants. Involvement in research dissemination was instrumental in demystifying research and researchers among undergraduate students. More than 2 years from Paper Chase participation evaluations may be needed to understand further longer-term impacts, such as changes in faculty’s team science, mentorship approaches, or publication records.

Online Shopping Addiction dalam Perspektif Islam Maslahah

The rapid development of information technology has changed consumer behavior, especially when it comes to online shopping. Ease of access to information and transactions via the internet has created a new phenomenon, namely online shopping addiction (OSA). OSA is defined as the tendency to shop excessively and compulsively over the internet, which can cause economic, social, and emotional problems. Research shows a positive correlation between internet addiction and online shopping addiction. Although online shopping provides convenience, it can also have negative impacts such as compulsive buying and financial problems. OSA can be measured along six dimensions: salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse. Individual coping skills play an important role in overcoming compulsive shopping tendencies. Individuals with good active coping skills tend to be better able to manage situational demands and have a lower risk of developing addictive behaviors such as OSA. Understanding OSA and the factors that influence it is important for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies in overcoming the problem of online shopping addiction in this digital era.

Understanding the Meaning of Loneliness and Social Engagement for the Workings of a Social Network Intervention Connecting People to Resources and Valued Activities.

Addressing loneliness, which is associated with poor mental and physical health, implicates the need for connectivity to a broad set of situated relationships and activities in the contexts of people's everyday lives. Social engagement has been identified as a relevant psychosocial mechanism mediating health and wellness and is central to addressing loneliness. The aim here is to explore the way in which people identified as lonely conceptualise their experiences of loneliness and social engagement for the purposes of incorporating these into the design and workings of an intervention that allows people to map their social networks and connect them to community-based valued activities. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were undertaken with 20 participants, aged 21-82 years old (mean age 59.7) nested within a pragmatic, community-based randomised controlled trial in the north and south of England. Participants had wide-ranging social network sizes (from 1 to 10 individuals) and reported variable impact of loneliness on their lives. Loneliness consisted as an absence of intimacy in the face of being surrounded by others, a sense of entrapment and boredom, lacking access to meaningful activities and difficulties in relating to others. The analysis highlighted the role that important relationships have in mediating loneliness. Individual readiness, skills and confidence in forming new connections and engaging with new activities are important barriers that exist in overcoming loneliness. For many, wider socio-political factors, such as transport provision, availability of resources and costs associated with social engagement are also important barriers which are difficult to overcome. Exploring the link between feelings, experiences and meaning of loneliness and the way in which a network intervention can be incorporated offers a focus for mediating the richness and opportunities that arise from locality-based connections and collective activities in the broader social environment. However, any intervention seeking to address loneliness requires a further focus on both individual and relational factors which might contribute to addressing loneliness and increasing a sense of wellness. The study team worked closely with community partner organisations in all aspects of this research, including, the submission of the funding proposal, development of the study protocol and procedures, recruitment, intervention deployment and assessment of implementation. PPI representatives provided advice on participant materials and interview schedules, and project management throughout and contributed to management and steering committee meetings.

Technologies and Sensors for Artificial Muscles in Rehabilitation

Muscles are very important parts of the human body. When there is an injury to a muscle that causes long-term dysfunctionality, sensors and artificial muscles can be used to help alleviate problems. Muscles have complex structures; thus, ultrasound and other types of scans may be needed to determine their parameters and model their shapes. Additionally, the measurement of chemicals in muscles plays a significant role in analyzing their performance and potential diseases in humans. All the above-mentioned components are needed for understanding the structure and function of muscles. The areas studied in this review include artificial muscles and exoskeletons, determining muscle parameters and modelling, assessing musculoskeletal functions, chemicals in muscles, and various applications, including those of wearable sensors. In future studies, we would like to understand the link between the brain and muscles and develop technologies that can assist in augmenting the motor skills of individuals affected by various debilitating conditions.

Free fasciocutaneous versus muscle flaps in lower extremity reconstruction: Implications for functionality and quality of life.

Free tissue transplantations are commonly used to treat complex lower extremity defects caused by trauma, vascular disease, or malignancy, particularly when vital structures are exposed. This study aimed to expand the knowledge on patient-reported outcomes by comparing fasciocutaneous and muscle flaps, with the goal of facilitating patient counseling. Additionally, patient-level risk factors associated with decreased functioning and health-related quality of life were identified. This retrospective, cross-sectional, multicenter study included patients who underwent microsurgical lower extremity reconstruction using free fasciocutaneous or muscle flaps between 2003 and 2021, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Data were collected from medical records, pain scores, Short-Form 36 (SF-36), and Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS). Mean scores were compared between flap types and predictors of LEFS, SF-36 Mental Component Summary (MCS), and SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores were determined using a backward stepwise regression model. Of the 206 patients eligible, 100 (49%) were included in the retrospective part. A total of 89 (43%) responded to the questionnaires, with 62 treated using a fasciocutaneous flap and 27 with a muscle flap. No significant differences in total LEFS, SF-36 PCS, or MCS scores were found between the two flap type. Pain was a significant predictor of decreased functional outcomes for both flap types, and was also linked to poorer mental health in patients treated with fasciocutaneous flaps. Other predictors of low patient-reported outcome scores included obesity, diabetes, poorer mental health, and a follow-up of less than two years. Patients treated with fasciocutaneous and muscle flaps experience comparable levels of functionality and quality of life after surgery. Flap selection should be based on defect characteristics, along with the surgeon's individual skills and preferences. A comprehensive approach that considers physical comorbidities, pain, and mental health is essential, as these factors significantly impact patient functionality and quality of life.

Exploring the Dual Impact of AI on Employment and Wages in Chinese Manufacturing

Purpose- This study investigates AI's impact on employment and wage dynamics within the manufacturing sector.Design/Methodology- Utilizing data from 3,522 manufacturing firms between 2007 and 2021, we analyze the effects of AI adoption on labor markets. Findings- AI adoption correlates with reduced employment numbers yet enhances wage rates, with some employees seeing wage increases as high as 83.86%. Heterogeneity analysis reveals variability in these impacts, dependent on contextual factors. The deployment of artificial intelligence in manufacturing sectors leads to an upgraded wage structure, emphasizing the importance of advancing individual professional skills to capitalize on these wage improvements. Additionally, compared to larger firms in the eastern region, small and medium-sized enterprises in the central and western regions stand to gain more substantially from the integration of artificial intelligence technology.Practical Implications- Policymakers need targeted interventions to address job losses while leveraging wage growth benefits, emphasizing reskilling and inclusive AI integration strategies. The study provides empirical evidence on AI's dual effect on employment and wages, offering nuanced insights into sector-specific AI consequences.

Could Motor Imagery Training Provide a Novel Load Management Solution for Athletes? Recommendations for Sport Medicine and Performance Practitioners.

Athletes often face the dual challenge of high training loads with insufficient time to recover. Equally, in any team, sports medicine and performance staff are required to progress training loads in healthy athletes and avoid prolonged reductions in training load in injured athletes. In both cases, the implementation of a well-established psychological technique known as motor imagery (MI) can be used to counteract adverse training adaptations such as excessive fatigue, reduced capacity, diminished performance, and heightened injury susceptibility. Narrative overview. Level 5. MI has been shown to enhance performance outcomes in a range of contexts including rehabilitation, skill acquisition, return-to-sport protocols, and strength and conditioning. Specific performance outcomes include reduction of strength loss and muscular atrophy, improved training engagement of injured and/or rehabilitating athletes, promotion of recovery, and development of sport-specific skills/game tactics. To achieve improvements in such outcomes, it is recommended that practitioners consider the following factors when implementing MI: individual skill level (ie, more time may be required for novices to obtain benefits), MI ability (ie, athletes with greater capacity to create vivid and controllable mental images of their performance will likely benefit more from MI training), and the perspective employed (ie, an internal perspective may be more beneficial for increasing neurophysiological activity whereas an external perspective may be better for practicing technique-focused movements). We provide practical recommendations grounded in established frameworks on how MI can be used to reduce strength loss and fear of reinjury in athletes with acute injury, improve physical qualities in rehabilitating athletes, reduce physical loads in overtrained athletes, and to develop tactical and technical skills in healthy athletes.

Movement Coordination's Link with Common Ground During Dyadic Peer Discourse in Typically Developing and Autistic Speakers.

Common ground (CG)-a pragmatic capability that reflects the construction of shared meaning by two interlocutors during conversation-is widely accepted as crucial for effective communication, but its exploration has been limited in the context of children's peer-to-peer interaction. Specifically, this study aimed to explore CG differences between typically developing (TD) and autistic populations, CG's developmental trajectories, as well as the link between CG and motor coordination skills during peer interactions. Study participants included 148 children (6-16 years), comparing 64 TD and 84 autistic children across three age levels. Fixed dyads matched on IQ, age, sex, and mother's education performed a CG tangram-card task and complementary joint action (JA) tasks to evaluate peer-to-peer movement coordination. Individual motor skills were also assessed. As expected, both autistic and TD groups showed increasing efficacy over the 6-turn CG task (fewer words and shorter duration to communicate), although autistic participants were less efficient than TD participants. Better motor skills and JA synchronization correlated with both groups' more efficient CG performance. Additionally, the indirect relationship between group (TD/autism) and CG was mediated by motor skills and JA, with age moderating the relationship between JA and CG. Specifically, better motor skills and socio-motor coordination were associated with more efficient CG creation, particularly in younger children (under 10years). These findings suggest potential novel avenues for early interventions targeting motor and language challenges in autism to enhance pragmatic abilities and peer interactions, offering insights into language development in this population.

Analisis Perbandingan Anggaran Pendidikan di Negara Nigeria dan Kongo

Education is one of the main pillars of social and economic development, especially in developing countries. Generally, education not only serves as a means of knowledge transfer but also plays a crucial role in shaping individual character and skills. In developing countries, education can be a tool to address various challenges such as poverty, social injustice, and economic inequality. In the context of analyzing education budgets in Nigeria and Congo, the most suitable research design is mixed methods research. This approach combines quantitative and qualitative methods, allowing researchers to gain a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the phenomena under study. A comparison of education budgets in Nigeria and Congo shows significant differences in the allocation and management of educational resources. Nigeria, with a larger budget allocation, has the potential to improve the quality of education, while Congo faces more fundamental difficulties with relatively low budget allocation. The factors influencing education budgets in both countries are highly variable.

3D printing as assistive technology for individuals with deafblindness: perspectives of rehabilitation professionals

There is a growing body of evidence on practical applications of three-dimensional (3D) printing to support the rehabilitation of individuals with sensory impairments. However, applications in the field of deafblindness, or the combination of vision and hearing impairment, remain scarce. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore actual and potential applications of 3D printing in deafblindness rehabilitation from the perspective of rehabilitation professionals in two focus group discussions that involved orientation and mobility specialists, vision rehabilitation specialists, audiologists, and braille technicians. Participants exchanged on 1) 3D printing applications to address their clients’ rehabilitation needs, 2) factors that can impact its integration into their practice, and 3) the ideal logistics for producing and delivering 3D printed products. Educative models and functional adaptations were identified to improve communication, learning, mobility, and independent living skills for individuals with deafblindness. Professionals agreed that the main barriers limiting 3D printing adoption were linked to time constraints and insufficient awareness or knowledge about this technology, while the most crucial facilitator was the promotion of interdisciplinary collaborations with 3D printing experts. The present findings thus emphasize the need for global collaborations, knowledge dissemination, and ongoing research and validation of 3D printing applications to support individuals with deafblindness.

Caregiver-Implemented Interventions to Improve Daily Living Skills for Individuals With Developmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review.

Many individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (DD) encounter difficulties in performing daily living skills, which limits their self-sufficiency and autonomy. Caregivers, such as parents, are often the individuals who interact with individuals with DD the most during daily living skills routines. Therefore, it is critical to teach caregivers to implement daily living skills interventions with their children. A systematic review of the literature related to caregiver-implemented daily living skills interventions yielded 38 articles. Of those, 20 articles, with 21 experiments, were rated as high quality based on What Works Clearinghouse design standards. Behavior skill training was the most common strategy used to teach caregivers to implement interventions. Common daily living skills interventions included prompting, reinforcement, and task analysis. The most common form of prompting was verbal prompting, and the most common schedule of reinforcement was a continuous schedule of reinforcement. Of the 21 high-quality experiments, 86% demonstrated caregiver-implemented interventions yielded improvements in daily living skills. Several studies demonstrated generalization and maintenance of daily living skills. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Distanciamento social na pandemia de COVID-19: Apontamentos para possíveis impactos nas habilidades sociais de indivíduos e populações.

Este artigo tem por objetivo estabelecer uma base inicial de discussão a respeito dos possíveis impactos das políticas de distanciamento social decorrentes da pandemia de COVID-19 sobre as habilidades sociais e a competência social de indivíduos e grupos e seus desdobramentos prováveis, considerando o conhecimento disponível no campo teórico-prático das Habilidades Sociais (HS). Foram abordadas as relações entre o distanciamento social, as habilidades sociais e a competência social, bem como discutidas as implicações desse novo contexto sobre os valores de convivência partilhados entre indivíduos, grupos e nações. Em virtude da escassez de estudos empíricos sobre a temática, até a presente data, essa discussão teórica pretendeu levantar questões conceituais e de pesquisa que podem ser endereçadas a estudos futuros na área.

Assessment of group formation methods on performance in group-based learning activities

Research on teaching and learning has demonstrated many benefits from team-and group-based learning for improving content comprehension and meeting learning outcomes in a wide range of disciplines. We help to expand on this research, by shedding additional light on the impact of group formation decisions on group performance during group learning activities in a higher education classroom setting. Our objective is to assess the impact of different group formation strategies, including random assignment, self-selection, and methods based on individual metrics, such as academic performance and individual skill levels. Using an experimental design approach, we find that GPA-based and math-ability based group formation strategies may provide some additional benefit to group performance on the margin when initially forming groups. Self-selection of groups may be more beneficial after students learn more about each other (e.g., skills sets and work ethic) during the progression of the course. Our study contributes to the literature by providing an assessment of different group formation strategies that are accessible to a wide range of instructors for small to large classes, as well as guidance on use of different group formation strategies within classes, specifically for classes with more quantitative and analytical tasks.

PSYCHOLOGICAL READINESS OF SENIOR ADOLESCENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION UNDER WARTIME STRESS CONDITIONS

Introduction. Researchers have always paid close attention to an educational problem of the formation and the role of psychological readiness of adolescents and students for studying at higher education institutions. After the start of a large-scale Russian military invasion in February 2022, this aspect has become particularly acute and relevant. The aim of this reveiw article is to examine the role of key subsystems of psychological readiness among students in higher education institutions under the influence of wartime conditions. Materials and methods. Based on professional review articles, this study examines the primary factors shaping a psychological readiness of an individual for higher education. The importance of this work is heightened by the ways in which these processes are significantly altered—and in some cases, become multi-complementary—under the conditions of the Russian military invasion. The study draws on psychological research conducted by leading scientists, focusing primarily on findings from the past five years. Results. The psychological readiness of first-year students for studying at higher education institutions is closely tied to their psychological adaptation to new academic conditions. This readiness is crucial for shaping graduates into professionally skilled specialists equipped to work in relevant sectors of the national economy. Research indicates that developing psychological adaptation of students is not feasible without a foundational intellectual component of psychological readiness established in earlier stages. This foundation promotes students’ creativity, the formation of self-concept („I” concept), and heightened resilience to the challenges of studying in higher education during extreme wartime conditions. Without this structure of psychological readiness, achieving higher education becomes virtually unattainable. The next important component of the system of psychological readiness of adolescents for studying at higher education institutions is personal readiness. This is a rather complex and complementary system of individual knowledge and skills. It solves practical issues of optimizing the receipt and processing of information by a adolescent, as well as readiness to discuss the achieved results with peers, the importance of these processes for the formation of self-awareness of young men and women. The third important component of university students’ psychological readiness is the operating system. First of all, this concerns not only the issues of mastering professional knowledge and technologies, but also the ability to use them in the practical professional activities of students, and later adults. Conclusion. Thus, the psychological readiness of adolescent students significantly enhances their ability to succeed in higher education. It fosters greater adaptability and resilience, particularly under the challenging conditions of wartime, supporting students in navigating their studies more effectively.

Preparing students for success

With increased demand for skilled professionals in science and technology, universities are broadening entry requirements resulting in students entering these specialised degrees with potential knowledge gaps. This presents an opportunity to uplift student capability through personalised learning journeys, enhancing their university readiness. This report details the Monash College's new maths uplift program, which uses skills analysis tools and self-assessment processes to determine “where students are” on their learning journey, both at entry to the Monash College and through to their first year of university. Mapped to the maths requirements of their chosen degree, this program comprises three key components: (1) a comprehensive Teaching and Learning progression that maps the learning trajectory via six core domains of mathematics, (2) a set of skills analysis tests aimed at different entry and exit points in mathematics, and (3) a large set of self-paced online learning modules recommended to students based on the outcomes of their individual skills analysis tests. The three key components work together to provide a tailored educational experience supporting students towards their destination degrees. This paper reports on the development of this uplift program and presents preliminary findings indicating positive impacts on student preparedness and engagement.

A kinematic dataset of locomotion with gait and sit-to-stand movements of young adults

Kinematic data is a valuable source of movement information that provides insights into the health status, mental state, and motor skills of individuals. Additionally, kinematic data can serve as biometric data, enabling the identification of personal characteristics such as height, weight, and sex. In CeTI-Locomotion, four types of walking tasks and the 5 times sit-to-stand test (5RSTST) were recorded from 50 young adults wearing motion capture (mocap) suits equipped with Inertia-Measurement-Units (IMU). Our dataset is unique in that it allows the study of both intra- and inter-participant variability with high quality kinematic motion data for different motion tasks. Along with the raw kinematic data, we provide the source code for phase segmentation and the processed data, which has been segmented into a total of 4672 individual motion repetitions. To validate the data, we conducted visual inspection as well as machine-learning based identity and action recognition tests, achieving 97% and 84% accuracy, respectively. The data can serve as a normative reference of gait and sit-to-stand movements in healthy young adults and as training data for biometric recognition.

Collaborations between health services and educational institutions to develop research capacity in health services and health service staff: a systematic scoping review

BackgroundParticipation of health service staff in research improves health outcomes and adherence to clinical guidelines. To increase research participation, many health services seek to build research capacity which adds to the development of individual and organisational skills and abilities in order to conduct health research. Numerous approaches to research capacity building have been trialed with inter- and intra-institutional, or university-health service collaborative approaches being frequently described strategies. University-health service research collaborations have potential for high impact and mutual benefit, by harnessing respective strengths across both organisations. However, the range and scope of research capacity building approaches, including their relative value and success have not been consolidated. The aim of this review was to examine and describe the collaborative strategies employed by health services in conjunction with educational partners to enhance the research capability of health service staff.MethodsThe scoping review framework by Arksey and O’Malley was used to inform the review method. A systematic search was conducted of four major databases: Medline, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane, focusing on publications after 1995. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were established through iterative team discussions. The two-stage screening process and data extraction was managed in Covidence. Collaboration, Research Capacity, Health Services, and Health workforce were the primary concepts, contexts and populations guiding the search.ResultsOf the 1462 studies identified, 61 were selected for the review. These studies reported on partnerships between universities and health services with a specific focus on building research capacity of health service staff. Studies predominantly hailed from Australia, USA, UK, and Canada. Collaboration approaches varied and leveraged different activities to build research capacity included training, mentoring, shared funding, and networking. Training partnerships emerging as the most prevalent. Findings emphasised the importance of localisation in approaches, with some studies indicating the intrinsic value of such collaborations for both partners involved. Despite the emphasis on individual interventions like training and mentoring, team-level interventions were notably scarce.ConclusionThis review highlights the diverse range of approaches in research capacity building collaborations between health services and educational partners. It advocates for a shared understanding of goals, highlighting the critical nature of relationship-building and the pivotal role of sustainable infrastructure in long-term collaboration success. Future directions should consider the tangible impacts of these models on clinical outcomes.

Analysis of Gender Issues in Computational Thinking Approach in Science and Mathematics Learning in Higher Education.

In the contemporary era, Computational Thinking has emerged as a crucial skill for individuals to possess in order to thrive in the 21st century. In this context, there is a need to develop a methodology for cultivating these skills within a science and mathematics content education framework, particularly among pre-service teachers. This study aimed to investigate the impact of Educational Robotics on the development of Computational Thinking skills, with a particular focus on the role of gender, through a scientific and mathematical content teaching approach. A pre-experimental design with a quantitative approach was employed, and it was implemented with a total of 116 pre-service teachers, 38 males and 78 females. The results demonstrated a notable enhancement between the pre-test (8.11) and post-test (9.63) scores, emphasising specific concepts such as simple functions, while, and compound conditional. With respect to gender, statistically significant differences were identified prior to the intervention, but not following its implementation. The high level of Computational Thinking exhibited by both genders was comparable (53.85% in females and 55.26% in males) following the intervention. This indicates that the intervention is a promising approach for enhancing Computational Thinking proficiency, independent of gender and initial proficiency levels. The implementation of Educational Robotics in the teaching of science and mathematics enables the enhancement of Computational Thinking abilities among pre-service teachers, while reducing the observed gender disparity in this area of skill development.

Measurement of acute postoperative pain intensity in orthopedic trials: a qualitative concept elicitation study.

Pain intensity is an important outcome in clinical trials of surgery because pain relief is important to patients. Currently, recommended scales are the numeric rating scale 0-10 and visual analogue scale. However, these scales allow for considerable influence of individual imagination, previous experience, and coping skills, limiting proficiency in comparative clinical trials. We aimed to explore postoperative expressions of "how much it hurts"-the first step to improve pain intensity measurement. This was a qualitative study using inductive content analysis: words and visual cues describing pain intensity were collected from (i) existing pain intensity measures by search of COSMIN, PubMed, and Google, (ii) patient interviews recorded and transcribed word-for-word, (iii) clinician interviews transcribed likewise, and (iv) 100 patient telephone interviews with notes taken. After familiarization, the collected expressions were labelled inductively in categories and assembled in tables (case and theme-based matrices). Descriptors fell into 12 categories: intensity (slight/strong), evaluative (negligible/unbearable), cognitive impact (distracting/can be ignored), activity impact (limits some/all activity), sleep impact (can/cannot sleep), examples (like stubbing a toe), physical signs (crying/writhing), associated symptoms (nauseating/tiring), treatment (ice helps/need morphine), affective (annoying/dreadful), discriminative (aching/piercing), and general recovery (hindering recovery/functional interference). Many visual cues were also identified. Literature and recorded interviews gave rise to the categories, and telephone interviews found saturation, providing no further categories. Pain intensity is expressed by terms that fall into 12 categories and by a variety of graphic elements. This advances development of a patient-reported outcome measure of pain intensity for orthopedic trials.

Modified interteaching sessions as application-based examinations reduce student exam stress in an upper-level pathophysiology class.

Testing is a highly important tool, used ubiquitously in academia, to assess student comprehension and understanding of material. Unfortunately, the emphasis placed on test grades has resulted in a modern epidemic of test-related anxiety, which can have adverse health effects on students. Over time, novel testing strategies have been developed to more precisely assess individual skills such as remembering, analyzing, and synthesizing. Yet there exist few strategies that were also developed to simultaneously reduce stress in the testing environment. We posit here a teaching innovation whereby we modified the classic interteaching session developed in the social sciences to serve as a stress-reduction testing format that also builds student communication and critical thinking skills in an upper-level pathophysiology course. After implementing this novel testing approach, we anonymously surveyed the students in the class to understand how the testing format affected their self-perceived stress levels, their self-perceived learning, and to identify their testing preferences. Of 28 students, 12 responded (43%). Our survey data highlight that students largely preferred partnered, open-response, case-based exams to multiple choice exams. Moreover, students perceived themselves as having lower test-related stress when taking partnered, open-response, case-based exams, as well as strong overall agreement that partnered, open-response, case-based exams enhanced their learning. We posit this application of modified interteaching can be employed in upper-level physiology or pathophysiology courses as a stress-reduction testing strategy.