Students In Other Fields Research Articles

A model for cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional student collaboration for undergraduate immunologists

Abstract Immunology is a cross-disciplinary field, existing at the interface of biology, engineering and medicine. Therefore, a crucial skill for immunologists to develop is their ability to collaborate with others who have vastly different expertise and skillsets, such as biomedical engineers and statisticians. Undergraduate students at the University of Toronto (UofT) have few formal opportunities to engage in these types of collaborations. Most team-based projects allow students to work with fellow immunology peers, or students from other biology disciplines; however, the opportunity to do so with students in other fields is rare. Even fewer opportunities exist to collaborate with students from other academic institutions. To address this gap, two undergraduate courses, IMM360 (Scientific Methods and Research in Immunology, UofT) and BMEG372 (Biomedical Materials and Drug Delivery, University of British Columbia), were knit together in September-December 2022 and 2023. Here, we present our scaffolded approach for promoting collaboration on a cross-disciplinary, cross-institutional project. Furthermore, we will report student attitudes towards cross-disciplinary collaboration, which were assessed via surveys both at the start and end of the collaborative project. We hope that learnings from this work will inform an effort to weave cross-disciplinary collaboration throughout all years of the Immunology undergraduate program at the University of Toronto and other institutions.

Awareness and Attitude Toward Telemedicine of Students at University of Paramedical Sciences

Introduction: Telemedicine technology is no longer a futuristic concept and is increasingly integrated into health care. As the studies on attitudes toward telemedicine focus mainly on physicians and medical students, there is a need to evaluate the views of students in other fields of paramedical sciences. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the awareness of and attitude towards telemedicine among the Paramedical Sciences students of Varastegan Institute for Medical Sciences in Mashhad.Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2022. A standard questionnaire was used to evaluate the awareness of and attitude towards telemedicine. This questionnaire included 14 questions, including demographic information (5 questions), information related to exposure to telemedicine (5 questions), interest in telemedicine (2 questions), and plans for future use (2 questions). A proportional per-size sampling method was used for paramedical sciences students.Results: A total of 81 participants responded to the research questionnaire. Most of the students (70.4%) stated that they had seldom been exposed to telemedicine technology. However, 50 students (62.6%) agreed and strongly agreed that exposure to telemedicine in the classroom is an important educational aspect. Also, 37 students (45.7%) strongly agreed that telemedicine needs face-to-face education. A significant difference was observed between the field of study and interest after experiencing telemedicine among the students (p=0.04). Also, there was a significant difference between the academic semester and the level of interest in telemedicine among the students (p<0.001).Conclusion: The results of this survey show that the majority of paramedical sciences students still lack the experience of being exposed to it, despite the increasing development of telemedicine. Since the majority of them are interested in using telemedicine as an educational aspect, future studies are recommended to help the education and experience of exposure to telemedicine among paramedical science students.

Stress and Coping Strategies among Medical Students in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2020: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background:: Studies conducted worldwide have found that medical students have higher levels of stress than students in other fields. Chronic stress can result in increased rates of fatigue, depression, and impairment in function. Although this phenomenon has been studied globally, there has been limited attention in our region. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess stress levels in medical students in Dubai and evaluate their coping strategies to highlight the importance of shedding light on the psychological well-being of this population. Methods:: A cross-sectional design was utilized for this study. The target population consisted of all medical students enrolled at a local university for the 2020-2021 academic year. The participants completed a survey that collected information on stress and coping strategies. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the Brief COPE inventory were utilized to gather the data. Results:: The total of 97 individuals completed the study questionnaire. The rates of high stress levels according to the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) were higher among medical students in the first to the third year (43.6%), when compared to medical students in the fourth and fifth years (7.7%). Results of the Brief COPE inventory indicated that the average score for a Problem Focused coping style among medical students fell in the medium to high range (22 out of 32). Conclusion:: Levels of stress are elevated among medical students. Coping responses reflect the individual’s psychological adjustment and well-being. Our study sample revealed a medium to high rate of engagement in healthy coping strategies. Future research that evaluates the psychological impact of stress in-depth and explores effective strategies to enhance coping is highly warranted.

УЧЕБНИК ПО ЛИТЕРАТУРЕ КАК ИНСТРУМЕНТ ПРЕДПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНОЙ ПОДГОТОВКИ ИНОСТРАННЫХ СЛУШАТЕЛЕЙ НА ДОВУЗОВСКОМ ЭТАПЕ ОБУЧЕНИЯ

This article discusses the issues of teaching humanities to foreign students of additional educational programs. The authors share their experience of teaching literature to students of philology at the pre-university stage at the Institute of International Education of Voronezh State University. The relevance of the article lies in the characteristics of the language of the specialty in the field of literary studies. The relevance of this article is to identify the features of pre-professional training in the literature of foreign students at the pre-university stage of education. The authors emphasize the need to form the language of the specialty among foreign students-humanities, along with students of other fields. A brief overview of productive techniques and methods of teaching the discipline "Literature" in a foreign audience is given. The authors pay special attention to the practical significance of the textbook "Literature. Fundamentals of the Theory and History of Russian Literature", developed and published at the Institute of International Education. This publication is an effective and modern tool that allows you to form the language of the specialty of foreign students-humanities during the pre-university stage of training. The textbook on literature is universal in content for different specialties of humanitarian orientation. It also contains a system of methodological tools that form students not only the basics of the specialty language, but also language and speech competencies. In conclusion, the authors share the results of further training of graduates of additional educational programs.

Development of an Attitude Scale on Activities Related to Biology and Nature for Mentally Disabled Students

The aim of this study is to develop a valid and reliable scale to determine the attitudes towards the activities that can be applied to the mentally retarded students about biology and nature. During the preparation of the draft form of the scale, an item pool was created from relevant literature. Then, these items were presented to expert opinion in terms of language, intelligibility and content. This draft scale with 30 items in 5-point Likert type was applied to 177 pre-service teachers studying in the special education department of the faculty of education at a state university. Item analysis, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were performed for the data collected after the application. As a result of the analyses, it was revealed that the scale had a five-factor structure consisting of 20 items. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the factor structure was compatible with the data. Goodness of fit index values was sufficient. The Cronbach Alpha internal consistency coefficient of the scale was calculated as 0.89. It can be said that the scale is valid and reliable in determining the views of pre-service teachers about the activities to be applied for mentally retarded students. In addition, the scale is suitable not only for teacher candidates, but also for use by teachers and researchers. In addition, different types of samples such as students in other fields at the undergraduate level and special education teachers who take courses related to special education can be included in the study group.

Mental Health of Computer Science Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic Social Isolation

The global COVID-19 pandemic has had impact not just on physical health, but also on mental health, particularly among undergraduate students. Previous studies have demonstrated that Computer Science students in particular already exhibit more symptoms of anxiety and depression than the general population and students in other fields. The study aimed to measure the impact of COVID-19 on Computer Science students' mental health, by assessing the prevalence and associated factors of anxiety and depression symptoms, and the factors that most affected their well-being. An online cross-sectional survey focused on concerns and impacts of COVID-19 was designed. The Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventories were used to measure the anxiety and depression symptoms. The data were anonymously collected, and analyzed using the TIBCO Statistica™ software, by non-parametric tests. 174 students (135 males; age=21.07±2.47 years) participated in the study. The prevalence of symptoms was 36.7% for anxiety and 60.3% for depression. 81% of students reported that their well-being had been negatively affected by the pandemic, with the most reported concerns including social isolation and delay in academic progress. Correlations between anxiety and depression symptoms, strong social relationships, regular practice of physical exercise, and students' level of satisfaction with their academic program were found. This paper sheds light on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CS students' mental health, suggests ways in which Computer Science students may be able to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and improve their mental health during and after the pandemic.

Does Economics Make You Sexist?

Abstract We provide direct evidence on explicit and implicit biases against women among students in economics relative to other fields. We conducted a large scale survey among undergraduates in Chile, among both entering first-year students and students in years 2 and above, combining a wide battery of measures to create an index of gender bias. Economics students are more biased than students in other fields. There is some evidence that economics students are more biased already upon entry, before exposure to economics classes. The gap becomes more pronounced among students in years 2 and above, especially for male students.

Risk factors of colorectal cancer: the comparison of selected nutritional behaviors of medical and non-medical students

BackgroundThe aim of the study was to compare the diet of medical and non-medical students in relation to colorectal cancer risk factors.Material and methodsThe study included 239 students of various universities in Bialystok, Poland. Respondents were divided into four groups: students of dietetics at the Medical University (SD), students of other fields of study at the Medical University (SMUB), students of the University of Technology (SBUT) and students of the University of Bialystok (SUB). The research tool was an anonymous questionnaire in an electronic form, designed by the authors of this paper.ResultsOverweight was the least common among students of dietetics. Products that may increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer were most frequently consumed by students of non-medical universities. Everyday consumption of processed meat products was declared by 2.08% of SD, 24.00% of SMUB, 16.13% of SBUT and 25.93% of SUB. Red meat was consumed several times a week or every day by 25% of SD, 25.33% of SMUB, 48.39% of SBUT and 35.19% of SUB. Fast-food meals consumption once or several times a week was confirmed by 4.17% of SD, 18.67% of SMUB, 27.42% of SBUT and 38.89% of SUB.ConclusionThe study conducted shows that students expose themselves to colorectal cancer risk factors through their diet.

The unintended detrimental effects of pursuing a professional vocation: The case of veterinarians.

Pursuing one's life calling can be personally fulfilling and professionally rewarding, but it also requires sacrifice. We provide evidence of a strong vocational drive using veterinary students as a case study and find that they willingly contribute higher monetary donations for helping animals relative to students in other fields. We also find a significant reduction in the cognitive performance of veterinarian students when exposed to an animal-in-need manipulation. The performance of non-veterinary students in the cognitive task is unaffected by the manipulation. Our results highlight the need for programs to address the economic, financial, and mental health well-being of students and professionals to promote sustainable vocational career commitment. "You owe it to all of us to get on with what you're good at." W.H. Auden.

Visual Perception of Property Rights in 3D

Despite the already advanced work on the construction of jurisdictional 3D cadastre models in many parts of the world and the technical feasibility of building very detailed 3D models of cities, relatively few specialists have focused on the aspects of visualizing property rights in three dimensions. Therefore, to complement the analyses carried out so far in this area, this research aims to investigate the perception of the visualization of multidimensional real estate data using different visual variables and by different audiences. The main contribution of the conducted research to the development of 3D cadastre visualizations is to start a discussion on the differences in their perception among real estate professionals and those who have no experience in this area and may have to use multidimensional property data. The research was conducted using a questionnaire-based survey method with the computer-assisted web interview (CAWI) technique. The questionnaire was completed by students of a course related to real estate law (geodetic science) and those who do not have regular contact with it (environmental engineering, medicine, sports, mechanics, and management). As a result of the survey, it emerged that the group studying geodetic science performed better on average than students in other fields of study. Additionally, the conducted survey confirmed the existing knowledge of the perception of the visualization of property rights in three dimensions. According to it, visualizations of property rights in 3D should use color. The use of transparency helps in visualisations made in grayscale but interferes with more complex colorful objects.

Socio-demographic Background and Career Consciousness of Students in Agricultural Higher Education in Eastern Hungary

Abstract In this study, we compare the socio-demographic background of Hungarian higher education students in the field of agriculture with that of students in other fields, and we also examine students’ career consciousness based on data from a large-sample survey conducted in Eastern Hungary in 2019. We found that in the field of agriculture 63.6% of the students were male and 64. 8% came from smaller settlements, which may be explained by the nature of the agricultural field. Regarding career consciousness, we found that while agricultural students come to higher education with the hope of obtaining a well-paying, high-prestige job, they usually do not engage in career-oriented activities and achievements during their studies.

Nurses' perspective on team learning in interprofessional teams.

The aim of this study is to find out what learning activities in interprofessional teams and what influencing factors for team learning activities in interprofessional teams can be described by nurses working in interprofessional teams. We conducted a descriptive interview study. We used a semi-structured interview guideline and interviewed 10 nurses (N=10) working in interprofessional teams. We analyzed our data using a qualitative content analysis. Nurses describe team learning activities of knowledge sharing, team reflection, and storing and retrieving. Furthermore, our results show that team stability is important for interprofessional teams. Our results can be helpful for hospitals to improve organizational structures that help interprofessional teams to work together. Furthermore, vocational education and training for nurses should offer possibilities for nursing students to learn together with students of other fields.

Comparison of the Prevalence of Eating Disorders among Dietetics Students and Students of Other Fields of Study at Selected Universities (Silesia, Poland).

Background: Over the past few years, an increase in the incidence of eating disorders has been noted. An increase in the pace of life, an increase in the availability of a wide variety of food products, and, to a large extent, the involvement of mass media are cited as reasons for this phenomenon. The promotion of a slim figure by the mass media is equated with achieving success in life, but also the advertising of a wide selection of food products (often highly processed) can have a serious impact on the development of eating disorders. This phenomenon is particularly observed in industrialized Western countries. Objective: Therefore, it was decided to test and compare whether dietetics students are indeed more predisposed to developing eating disorders than students not in the nutrition field. Material and methods: the study included 310 individuals representing two equal groups of fields of study—dietetics and other students. The study used standardized questionnaire—EAT-26. Results: It was found that almost half (46%) of the respondents (both dietetics students and students of other majors) met at least one criterion out of three that could indicate the probable existence or susceptibility to an eating disorder. These individuals should see a specialist for further diagnosis. There was no significant effect of the field of study on the overall EAT-26 test score (p > 0.05). When this result was corrected for BMI values for those with the lowest scores on this indicator, the risk of eating disorders was found to be higher among students of majors other than dietetics (X2 = 13.572; V = 0.831 p = 0.001). Conclusions: Almost half of the respondents in both study groups showed a predisposition to eating disorders based on the EAT-26 test. Despite the presence of a correlation in individual responses that dietetics students are more predisposed to eating disorders, no such relationship was found according to the final EAT-26 test scores. However, it was observed that non-dietetics students who had low BMI values showed higher tendencies toward behaviors indicative of eating disorders.

Personal librarian programs in medical and academic health sciences libraries: a preliminary study.

Objective:This preliminary study examined how personal librarian programs are implemented within medical and academic health sciences libraries. Increasing awareness of these programs and how they are implemented could create a larger and more accessible knowledge base for establishing best practices that similar libraries can look to when creating their own programs.Methods:To characterize existing programs, a twenty-two-item survey was sent to MEDLIB-L, AAHSL-ALL, ARCL-HSIG, and PSS-Lists email listservs in October 2018 to reach a broad audience of medical and academic health sciences librarians. Survey responses were analyzed using Qualtrics and Excel.Results:Of the 2,882 potential email recipients, 49 survey sessions were recorded, and a total of 38 survey sessions were completed (1.3% response rate). Of the 38 completed responses, representatives of 12 libraries (31.5%) reported that a personal librarian program had been implemented at their institution. For implementation, eight libraries involved 1–5 librarians, and four involved 6–10. Librarians were assigned 50–100 (n=6), 101–150 (n=1), or 151 or more (n=1) students each. The identified programs served medical students (n=11), nursing students (n=7), health professions students (n=7), dental students (n=2), and students in other fields (n=4). Services provided and communication methods were also identified.Conclusions:The personal librarian programs identified by the survey were uniquely structured to best meet the needs of their users, though similarities in implementation existed across institutions. Medical and academic health sciences libraries can look to these libraries as practical examples when starting their own personal library programs.

Student Empathy Attitude in Supporting Competence as a Prospective Counselor

This study aims to determine the quality of the empathy attitude of the Islamic Education Counseling Guidance students of IAIN Kudus in Supporting Competence as a Prospective Counselor. This research uses qualitative methods with the type of field research (field research), data mining using questionnaires, observation, interviews and documentation then analyzed using a percentage descriptive table. The results showed that the empathy attitude of the students of Islamic Education Counseling Guidance was in the good category, namely 58%. Although it is still regarded as unsatisfactory, it is a fundamental skill of the counselor. However, it is said that counseling students can develop their empathy better than students in other fields, such as medicine, nursing, and students in the social work field. Suggestions as Guidance and Counseling students are necessary to develop an obedient attitude both through lecture learning and in other forms of activity.

Sexual health knowledge and influencing factors among health science students at a state university in Turkey

Objectives It is important to determine the sexual health knowledge and educational needs of university health science students, as they need this knowledge in both their personal and professional lives. We aimed to determine the sexual health knowledge and affecting factors of health science students in Turkey. Methods A descriptive study was carried out among students at a university faculty of health sciences in Ankara province, Turkey. Data were collected using a student information form and the Sexual Health Knowledge Test (SHKT). Results The study comprised 738 participants. Students’ mean SHKT score was moderate (25.13 ± 5.28; range 0–40). The lowest correct response rates in the SHKT were to questions on sexually transmitted infections (45.6%) and safe sexual behaviour (53.5%). Students’ main sources of information on sexual health were the internet (72%) and friends (40.9%). The most important factors affecting SHKT scores were having graduated from a health-education high school (eta2 = 0.035); having a working mother (eta2 = 0.023); getting sexual health information from the internet (eta2 = 0.019), from friends (eta2 = 0.018) or from school/teachers (eta2 = 0.015); having friends of the opposite sex for emotional and/or social support (eta2 = 0.010); and being female (eta2 = 0.008). Conclusion The results indicate the importance of educating young people and their parents about sexual health. We recommend that the sexual health educational needs of university students in health sciences should not be overlooked; these students have similar needs to those of students in other fields.

Rite of passage into the teaching profession? Australian pre-service teachers’ professional learning in the Indo-Pacific through the New Colombo Plan

ABSTRACT A growing number of pre-service teachers (PSTs), who traditionally tend to be less internationally mobile than students in other fields, are participating in mobility programs to the Indo-Pacific region. This article analyses the extent to which Australian pre-service teachers’ international mobility experiences via the New Colombo Plan (NCP) contribute to the development of their professional capabilities and preparedness for the teaching profession. The research uses positioning theory as a conceptual framework to interpret how teachers make sense of their professional learning via international practicums. The PSTs’ perceptions and experiences disrupt the stereotype of the Indo-Pacific as nurturing a spoon-fed and rote learning culture that inhibits students’ independent learning. It shows how the Indo-Pacific region represents a powerful learning space for PSTs from an Anglophone country like Australia to learn to teach independently, develop ethnorelative perspectives, and enrich their professional capacities. The findings indicate that international practicums in the Indo-Pacific helped Australian PSTs build essential professional skills and enhance their preparedness to teach in culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms both in Australia and internationally. Importantly, the study highlights how Indo-Pacific experiences support Australian PSTs’ development of empathy and awareness of social justice as well as the aspiration to work with disadvantaged and refugee children.

Development of the Anxiety Scale for Chemistry

Chemistry as a subject is seen by many students as an abstract and difficult lesson that bears no relationship to life. This study aimed to develop an ‘Anxiety Scale for Chemistry’, which is essential to setting an alternative for existing tools to determine anxiety for chemistry of students. This study has been carried out to develop a tool to measure the level of anxiety of students studying in the high schools in Turkey. The scale was developed as a result of the following processes: literature scan and creation of the item pool, taking expert opinions, item-total correlation, item distinctiveness features, exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency reliability, examination of correlation between sub-dimensions and confirmatory factor analysis. According to the results obtained, the scale is acceptably reliable for the research in social sciences. This study recommends that the Anxiety Scale for Chemistry should be administered to students of other fields also. Keywords: Anxiety, scale, chemistry, reliability, validity, factor analysis.

A Private Equity Course

Currently, there is a widespread and strong demand for courses covering private equity funds. This pressure is understandable given that most students in business schools are seeking jobs in the private equity industry, and plenty of students in other fields also want to join. Private equity funds grew from managing about $5 billion in 1980, to about $500 billion in 2000, to about $5 trillion in 2016, and are nearing $10 trillion as of 2020. This growth has exceeded that of any other financial products. In addition, in the US alone, nearly 10 million people work for a company controlled by a private equity fund. Finally, this industry is home to a stockpile of mythologies, war-stories and fantasies, all shrouded in complex jargon, making the need for education yet more pressing. This private equity course attempts to assist students on their quest to become fluent in the private market language and techniques. This up-to-date, authoritative, and non-complacent course builds on twenty years of academic research and teaching in this field, with the contribution of practitioners who intervene as guest speakers and tutors. The course textbook, “Private Equity Laid Bare” (v3.0, 381 pages) is affordable, especially as it includes five case studies, of which two role plays, and a specialised dictionary (Alternative Oxford Private Equity Dictionary). A companion podcast series also provide a body of asynchronous material free of charge.

Anxiety and Depression Among Health Sciences Students in Home Quarantine During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Selected Provinces of Nepal.

Aim: This study aimed to assess anxiety and depression among health sciences students at home quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic in selected provinces of Nepal.Methods: A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 409 health science students enrolled at graduate and post-graduate levels in selected universities and their affiliated colleges. Students from selected colleges were asked to fill out a survey, that was made available through email and social media outlets such as Facebook and Viber. The data were downloaded in Excel and imported to SPSS version 16 for analysis.Results : The prevalence of anxiety and depression was 15.7 and 10.7%, respectively. The study showed significant associations between (i) place of province and anxiety; (ii) sleep per day and depression; (iii) hours spent on the internet per day for education and depression; (iv) postponement of final exams and depression. There were no significant associations with the socio-demographic variables.Conclusion: Anxiety and depression in health science students showed correlation with the province, internet use for education, and postponement of exams. These correlations could be common among students in other fields as well. A large-scale study covering a wider geographical area and various fields of education is necessary to further evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on (health sciences) students. The integration of mental health programs both as an intervention and a curriculum level among students is critical to ensure the health of the students.