Health Training Research Articles

Prevalence of work-related injuries and associated factors among municipal solid waste collectors in Hawassa City, Sidama, Ethiopia 2023

Work-related injury is one of the most complex public health challenges globally. Rapid population growth and development in Hawassa City have resulted in increased solid waste generation, a growing complexity of waste with an increasing number of waste collectors, and mounting risks. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of work-related injuries among solid waste collectors in Hawassa City, Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia, in 2023. A cross-sectional design was employed with 240 waste collectors using simple random sampling. Data were collected using the Open Data Kit and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 24. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted, and associations were determined using odds ratios (ORs) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and a significance level of 0.05. The 240 waste collectors, 237 (98.8%) participated in this study. Among them, 104 (43.9%, 95% CI: 37.5–50.3) reported work-related injuries. Factors such as work duty as a recycler (AOR = 6.64; 95% CI: (2.11 to 20.845)), manual handling of waste (AOR: 5.187; 95% CI (2.23 to 12.04)), receiving first occupational health training ((AOR: 3.449; 95% CI (1.328 to 8.96)), on-the-job training (AOR = 7.826; 95% CI (3.08 to 19.839)), and the use of modern waste handling equipment (AOR: 0.251; 95% CI, (0.071 to 0.893)) were found to be significant predictors of work-related injury. The prevalence of work-related injuries among municipal solid waste collectors in Hawassa City is high. Thus, we recommend that pre-employment and on-the-job training be provided to waste collectors, along with the regular provision of appropriate waste-handling equipment.

Evaluation of an Interprofessional Educational Intervention in Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disability for Health and Social Service Trainees.

Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience high rates of poor mental health and challenges accessing timely and high-quality services. There is limited interprofessional training on mental health care for this population. A virtual, synchronous program based on the Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Ontario IDD Mental Health program was developed for health and social service trainees. Participants represented 10 disciplines across 12 Canadian university or college programs. The program was taught by a team of health and social service providers together with individuals with lived experience and included didactics and case-based discussions. Program evaluation utilized a pre-, post-, and 12-week follow-up survey design with feedback surveys following each session. Fifty participants registered for the program; 34 (68%) completed baseline measures and attended at least two sessions. Overall, participants reported high session satisfaction (average rating of 4.47 of 5). Participants demonstrated significant improvement in self-efficacy regarding communication (p < 0.001), management of mental health needs (p < 0.001), and working across systems (p < 0.001). Participants self-reported feeling more knowledgeable about common comorbidities (p < 0.001), assessing behavioral challenges (p < 0.001), the role of interdisciplinary professionals (p < 0.001), and community resources (p < 0.001). Improvements were maintained at follow-up across outcomes. The pilot Project ECHO for health and social service trainees in adult IDD mental health demonstrated high participant satisfaction and positive impact on trainees' self-efficacy and knowledge. Interprofessional educational interventions can be effectively implemented using virtual technology to teach about other mental health populations requiring multisector care.

Can public health services promote the settlement intention of migrant workers: empirical analysis from China.

Enhancing migrant workers' settlement intention in cities requires ensuring they have equal public health rights as urban residents. Full access to public health services can strengthen their sense of belonging and improve the well-being of this vulnerable group. Evaluating the welfare impact of public health services from the perspective of city identification offers valuable insights and informs policies aimed at improving the quality of public health service provision. This study utilizes data from the 2017 China CMDS survey. We employed various analytical methods, including the Probit model, IV-Probit model, Propensity Score Matching, and KHB decomposition, to empirically examine the impact of public health services on the settlement intention of migrant workers. Additionally, we explored the underlying mechanisms and heterogeneity of this impact. Public health services such as health records management and public health education significantly increase the settlement intention of migrant workers. The positive effect of public health services on the settlement intention is more pronounced among migrant workers who have moved across provinces and those who are married. Public health services indirectly enhance the settlement intention by improving urban satisfaction and sense of belonging, with the latter having a more substantial indirect effect. The current provision of basic public health services in China for migrant workers still needs improvement. This highlights the necessity of enhancing health record management, increasing health education and training, and tailoring services to better meet the needs of migrant workers. By improving the supply of public health services, we can effectively raise migrant workers' urban satisfaction and sense of belonging, thereby indirectly increasing their willingness to settle in cities. The findings of this study contribute to further optimizing the implementation of public health service policies and provide meaningful guidance for improving the urban integration of migrant workers.

Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program for Professionals (HRSA)

Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program for Professionals (HRSA)

The Effect of Digital Health Interventions on Postpartum Depression or Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

(Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2024;230(1):12–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2023.06.028) Around 15% of women experience postpartum depression (PPD) and 20% encounter postpartum anxiety (PPA) within the first year after childbirth. Research has shown that psychoeducation, psychotherapies, and mindfulness can effectively prevent and treat PPD and PPA. However, &lt;20% of women with these conditions can access these interventions due to a shortage of trained mental health professionals during the perinatal period. Digital health interventions (DHIs) offer a potential solution by providing evidence-based psychoeducation and psychotherapy through the Internet, smartphone apps, or text messaging services. DHIs are highly accessible, as nearly all reproductive-age individuals in the US own smartphones, and a majority have broadband internet access. They also overcome barriers such as lack of childcare and unreliable transportation, which hinder adherence to in-person postpartum care. In addition, DHIs can be scaled effectively without compromising intervention fidelity.

Building competency to deal with environmental health challenges: experiences and a proposal

The global landscape of professional training in environmental health, encompassing ecological public health or environmental public health, lacks consistent global implementation for training programs for public health practitioners, clinical professionals, and individuals across various disciplines, as well as standardized curricula for undergraduates. This training gap is related to the overall lack of capacity in addressing the population impacts of the triple challenge of pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change, impeding the worldwide transition to and development of ecological sustainability. This paper reviews existing approaches and their potential to address implementation challenges within the necessarily tight timescale. Spreading of best practice appears feasible even without substantial additional resources, through the reorientation of current practices via comprehensive multi-disciplinary training programs. By adopting international best practices of training in environmental health, the focus in training and education can shift from future decision-makers to enhancing the competencies of current professionals and their institutions.

The Impact of Employee Benefits on Job Satisfaction in the Sales Industry: An Analytical Study Using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory

Abstract: This study aims to explore the relationship between employee benefits and job satisfaction in the sales industry and analyze how improving employee benefit programs can affect employee job satisfaction. Through literature review and in-depth interviews with employees of sales companies of different sizes, this paper analyzed various types of employee benefits and their potential impact on employee satisfaction. The study utilized psychological and social theoretical models, such as Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory, to construct an analytical framework. The research findings indicate that certain key elements in employee benefit programs, such as health insurance, training and development opportunities, and work-life balance policies, have a significant effect on improving sales personnel's job satisfaction. Furthermore, through a case study of Starbucks Corporation, this paper further verified that implementing comprehensive and competitive employee welfare strategies in a sales environment can significantly enhance employee loyalty and reduce turnover rates. The study provides specific management recommendations for enterprises in the sales industry, emphasizing the importance of establishing or improving employee benefit plans to enhance employee satisfaction and business performance.

Suicide Prevention across the Community: Evaluation of Mental Health Training for Multiple Gatekeeper Groups

Introduction. The USA experiences higher suicide rates than the global average, with rural rates even higher. The present study examined whether a single suicide prevention training could increase knowledge, awareness, and intention to act among multiple gatekeeper populations in Kansas, a rural state with elevated suicide rates. Methods. An evidence-based suicide prevention training program was developed by licensed clinical psychologists at a public university in Kansas and offered online to multiple recruitment groups: university faculty/staff and students, healthcare workers, and other community members on a voluntary basis; high school staff and students on a compulsory basis. Participants reported knowledge, awareness, and intention on a Likert-type scale and indicated whether they had completed previous suicide prevention training. 865 participants provided retrospective pre/post results. Paired samples t-tests were run on the full set and each recruitment group. Repeated measures ANOVAs compared results by recruitment group and previously trained status. Results. Overall, by recruitment group, and by previously trained status, participants demonstrated statistically significant pre/post increases on all items. ANOVA found no significant differences between recruitment groups. Participants with previous training reported less change in scores but still increased scores significantly. Conclusions. Findings support the efficacy of using a single suicide prevention training across multiple populations. This has implications for allotting limited resources in an environment of high need.

Promoting Workplace Health, Safety, and Well-Being Among Essential Agricultural Workers Through Vaccine-Preventable Infectious Diseases Training in the Rio Grande Valley

ABSTRACT Introduction Health, safety, and well-being training programs provide essential education on anticipating, identifying, and mitigating exposures like infectious diseases. Gaps in infectious diseases awareness and education became especially apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently were exacerbated by mis- and disinformation. Methods Vaccine-preventable infectious diseases training (influenza, hepatitis A and B, and tetanus infections, including COVID-19) was developed, delivered, and evaluated among 1,043 farmworkers, bodega workers, and production management in the Rio Grande Valley using mobile-learning technologies. The Kirkpatrick Four-Level Training Evaluation Model was utilized to evaluate training satisfaction (Level 1), effectiveness (Level 2), and effect on behavior (Level 3). Results The mean score on the pretest before training was 67.8% (SD 17.5), and the mean score on the same test immediately after the video training was 77.2% (SD 17.9). A paired t-test revealed that knowledge improved significantly from pre- to post-training (p < .05). We observed a difference between mean pre- and post-test scores relative to the pooled standard deviation, resulting in an effect size estimate of 0.53 indicative of a medium learning effect. Conclusion There is no “silver bullet” for training migrating bodega and farmworkers. Our findings suggest that the utilization of m-learning techniques continues to be a successful mechanism for delivering health, safety, and well-being awareness training content to agricultural workers in remote and challenging work environments. There is a long overdue need for offline capable software with features that allow equitable access to training, even in remote farming regions.

Is physical fitness associated with leucocyte telomere length in youth with type 1 diabetes?

In type 1 diabetes, telomere length (TL) may predict complications and could be influenced by glycaemic control and physical activity, but its relationship with physical fitness in youths remains unexplored. The aim of the study was to assess the association between physical fitness and TL in youth with type 1 diabetes, both at baseline and one year later. Eighty-three children and adolescents (aged 6-18 years; 44.6% girls) with type 1 diabetes from the Diactive-1 Cohort Study were involved in this study. Physical fitness was assessed using spirometry on a cycloergometer (i.e., peak oxygen consumption), dynamometry, and maximal isometric strength (one-repetition maximum [1RM]), and muscle power. Leucocyte TL was assessed using multiplex monochrome real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Positive cross-sectional associations were identified between 1RM (unstandardized beta coefficient [B]= 0.042, 95% bias corrected and accelerated [BCa] confidence interval [CI] 0.012-0.069), muscle power (B = 0.056, 95% BCa CI 0.02-0.250), and overall physical fitness (B = 0.043, 95% BCa CI 0.015-0.071) with TL independent of maturation, glycated haemoglobin, and diabetes duration. However, no associations were observed one year later. Higher levels of fitness, particularly musclestrength, may play a role in telomere dynamics in youth with type 1 diabetes, suggesting that strength training exercise could be beneficial. This is the first study to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal perspectives on the correlation among muscle strength, peak oxygen consumption [VO2peak] and telomere length in youths with type 1 diabetes. Higher physicalfitness levels, as assessed by measures such as one-repetition maximum, muscle power, and overall physical fitness, are positively associated with telomere length in youths with type 1 diabetes. Understanding this link could improve management strategies, prioritizing muscle strength training for better long-term health in type 1 diabetes.

Addressing tobacco screening and treatment among racially and ethnically minoritized parents in pediatric clinics: barriers and facilitators.

Household secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure remains a significant health issue for racially and ethnically minoritized children in the United States. Delivering parental tobacco treatment during pediatric primary care visits can reduce children's SHS exposure. This study examined current tobacco screening practices and health system stakeholder perceptions of facilitators and barriers to addressing tobacco use during pediatric visits among racially and ethnically minoritized parents. We conducted 25 semi-structured interviews with clinicians, staff, and health system leaders from 5 pediatric primary care clinics in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. The study was informed by the Health Equity Implementation Framework. Interviews were analyzed using both directed content and thematic analysis. Participants identified multilevel facilitators and barriers to addressing parental tobacco use in minoritized families. Within the clinical encounter, barriers included linguistic and cultural barriers, health system navigational challenges, medical mistrust, low levels of clinician and staff knowledge, skills, and confidence, time constraints, and lack of alignment with external metrics. Facilitators centered on leveraging interpreters' cultural knowledge and the presence of culturally-congruent clinicians and staff to reduce medical mistrust and stigma, developing linguistically and culturally relevant resources, and integrating prompts and resources into the electronic health record. Participants described how lessons from previous system change mechanisms would facilitate this work. Addressing health system, training and resources, and linguistic and cultural barriers among clinicians and staff is essential to strengthen their capacity to address household SHS exposure among racially and ethnically minoritized populations as a component of pediatric preventive care. Clinicians and health system staff perceive unique barriers to identifying and addressing parental tobacco use among racially and ethnically minoritized parents during pediatric primary care visits. Solutions to expand tobacco treatment access to minoritized parents in pediatric settings must attend to clinician training needs on tobacco treatment, embedding clinical encounter resources and reminders that match the linguistic and cultural needs and preferences of their patient populations, and increasing access to high quality interpreting services and culturally-congruent staff.

Building the OAChangeMap to Improve the Service Delivery of the New South Wales Osteoarthritis Chronic Care Program: A Worked Example of Using a Codesign Framework.

The Osteoarthritis Chronic Care Program (OACCP) has been implemented in Australian public hospitals to deliver best evidence osteoarthritis (OA) care. It is important to ensure that the OACCP continues to deliver evidence-based OA care as intended. We aimed to identify barriers and enablers to delivering the OACCP, prioritize the barriers, and generate strategies to address them. This study provides a worked example of a seven-step theory-informed codesign framework. We invited OACCP coordinators to participate in semistructured interviews (analyzed thematically) and complete a questionnaire to identify barriers and enablers to delivery of the OACCP. We then invited a broader group of stakeholders (OACCP coordinators, health managers, policy makers, consumers, and researchers) to prioritize the barriers via a short survey (survey 2). We held five codesign workshops in which we mapped the priority barriers to the Theoretical Domains Framework and developed strategies to address them. Sixteen coordinators were interviewed, and the main barriers identified were as follows: (1) patients often have beliefs that are inconsistent with best evidence care, (2) there are aspects of clinical care that are not delivered optimally, and (3) system-level factors are a barrier to optimal patient care and sustainability of the OACCP. We codesigned a plan for action with patient educational materials, shared decision-making tools, and health professional education and training. Our worked example of codesign used a theory-based, data-driven approach with key stakeholders, identified and prioritized barriers to the delivery of the OACCP, acknowledged enablers, and generated a plan for feasible strategies to improve the program.

Cost analysis of adding hypertension and diabetes management into routine HIV care in Mbarara and Ibanda districts, Uganda

BackgroundIn 2016, Uganda introduced services for hypertension and diabetes in selected HIV clinics. We evaluated the costs associated with scaling up these services in HIV clinics in Mbarara and Ibanda districts, Uganda.MethodsWe estimated the annual costs of providing hypertension and diabetes services using an activity-based costing approach from the health system perspective in ten randomly selected HIV clinics in Mbarara and Ibanda districts. Cost inputs included 2023 data on costs of medications, health provider time, salaries, training costs, and monitoring costs. We determined the average annual cost and medication costs for hypertension and diabetes treatment per enrolled adult patient, stratified by type of health facility.ResultsThe total annual cost of hypertension and diabetes management services in ten selected HIV clinics was estimated to be $413,850 (range: $8,386 − 186,973). The annual average clinic-level cost per enrolled patient was estimated at $14 (range: $7 − 31). Of the total annual cost, the cost of provider time for initial and follow-up visits represented the largest cost component in 5/10 clinics (mean: 37%, range [13–58%]). In 4/10 clinics, the major cost components were the costs of medication, diagnostic tests, and related supplies (mean: 37%, range [10–75%]). The average cost per enrolled adult patient was $11 at public facilities and $21 in private not-for-profit facilities. The average medication cost per patient for hypertension was $24 (range: $7 − 97) annually; $13 at public facilities and $50 at private not-for-profit facilities. For diabetes treatment, the average annual medication cost per patient was estimated at $14 (range: $6 − 35); $11 at public facilities and $22 at private not-for-profit facilities.ConclusionAdding hypertension and diabetes management to routine HIV care might be feasible based on the estimated annual cost per patient. Hypertension and diabetes treatment was more costly in private not-for-profit facility-based clinics than at public facilities. This variation was primarily driven by higher medication procurement prices at private facilities, revealing a potential area for optimizing costs through improved procurement practices.

Mapping lymphatic filariasis morbidities in 24 endemic districts of Ethiopia through the health extension program

BackgroundThe primary strategy for achieving the second goal of the Global Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) is morbidity management and disability prevention (MMDP), aimed at alleviating the suffering of affected populations. A significant challenge in many LF-endemic areas is the effective registration and identification of individuals with LF, which is crucial for planning and ensuring access to MMDP services. This study seeks to map the geographical distribution of LF-related morbidities across 24 endemic districts in Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted to identify individuals affected by LF in 24 endemic districts using primary health care units (PHCUs). The study involved 946 trained health extension workers (HEWs) conducting house-to-house visits to identify and register cases of lymphedema and hydrocele, with support from 77 trained supervisors and 87 team leaders coordinating the morbidity mapping. Certified surgeons performed confirmatory evaluations through clinical assessments on a randomly selected sample of cases to validate HEW diagnoses, ensuring accurate identification of lymphedema and hydrocele. Statistical analysis of the data, including the severity of lymphedema and acute attacks, was conducted using STATA 17.ResultsThis study involved 300,000 households with nearly 1.2 million individuals, leading to the identification of 15,527 LF cases—14,946 (96.3%) with limb lymphedema and 581 (3.7%) with hydrocele. Among those with lymphedema, 8396 (54.1%) were women. Additionally, 13,731 (88.4%) patients resided in rural areas. Of the 14,591 cases whose acute attack information was recorded, 10,710 (73.4%) reported experiencing at least one acute attack related to their lymphedema in the past 6 months, with a notable percentage of males (74.5%; n = 4981/6686). Among the 12,680 recorded cases of leg lymphedema, the percentage of acute attacks increased with severity: 64% (n = 5618) mild cases, 68% (n = 5169) moderate cases and 70% (n = 1893) severe cases.ConclusionThis study successfully mapped the geographical distribution of LF morbidities across 24 LF-endemic districts in Ethiopia, identifying a substantial number of lymphedema and hydrocele cases, particularly in rural areas where healthcare access is limited. The findings underscore the potential of Ethiopia’s health extension program to identify affected individuals and ensure they receive necessary care. The findings inform targeted interventions and access to MMDP services, contributing to Ethiopia’s goal of eliminating LF by 2027.

Prescribing pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention: a cross-sectional survey of general practitioners in Australia.

Background Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a safe and effective medication for preventing HIV acquisition. We examined Australian general practitioners' (GP) knowledge of PrEP efficacy, characteristics associated with ever prescribing PrEP and barriers to prescribing. Methods We conducted an online cross-sectional survey of GPs working in Australia between April and October 2022. We performed univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses to identify factors associated with: (1) the belief that PrEP was at least 80% efficacious; and (2) ever prescribed PrEP. We asked participants to rate the extent to which barriers affected their prescribing of PrEP. Results A total of 407 participants with a median age of 38years (interquartile range 33-44) were included in the study. Half of the participants (50%, 205/407) identified how to correctly take PrEP, 63% (258/407) had ever prescribed PrEP and 45% (184/407) felt confident with prescribing PrEP. Ever prescribing PrEP was associated with younger age (AOR 0.97, 95% CI: 0.94-0.99), extra training in sexual health (AOR 2.57, 95% CI: 1.54-4.29) and being a S100 Prescriber (OR 2.95, 95% CI: 1.47-5.90). The main barriers to prescribing PrEP included: 'Difficulty identifying clients who require PrEP/relying on clients to ask for PrEP' (76%, 310/407), 'Lack of knowledge about PrEP' (70%, 286/407) and 'Lack of time' (69%, 281/407). Conclusion Less than half of our GP respondents were confident in prescribing PrEP, and most had difficulty identifying who would require PrEP. Specific training on PrEP, which focuses on PrEP knowledge, identifying suitable clients and making it time efficient, is recommended, with GPs being remunerated for their time.

Mental health services for the deaf: an exploratory study of the aetiology, sources of information, and access to mental health services among deaf persons in Ghana

BackgroundThe global burden of mental health disorders is on the increase, which has contributed to discussions on mitigation strategies. While mental health discourses in respect of access to services are still ongoing, there is limited focus on vulnerable groups. Deaf persons are at risk of exclusion from health services due to their unique modes of communication. In order to advocate for the inclusion of deaf persons in mental health services, there is a need for a study eliciting information on their knowledge about mental health and accessibility to services.MethodThe study was guided by a mixed-methods design and a two-phase data collection. In phase one, a questionnaire was distributed to 284 deaf persons to gather information on their knowledge of mental health conditions, causes, sources of information, and accessibility of services. Frequencies were used to report the trends identified in the data. Following this, an interview guide was designed based on the trends identified in the first phase to develop an in-depth insight into the experiences of deaf persons (n = 40) in respect of awareness and accessibility to mental health services.ResultsThe results showed convergences and divergence between the qualitative and quantitative data. For instance, they were convergences between both datasets relative to knowledge on and causes of mental health conditions.ConclusionThe study highlights the need for health policymakers to leverage the information gathered on the study participants’ knowledge to develop appropriate mental health training programmes for deaf persons.

Assessment of Quality of Life and Determinants Among the Elderly Population in Rural Areas of Puducherry: A Mixed Method Study

Background: Elderly people living in rural areas often faces unique challenges that affect their quality of life (QOL), including limited access to healthcare and social support. Understanding the factors influencing their well-being is essential to improve the quality of life. The study aims to assess the QOL and its determinants among the elderly in rural areas of Puducherry. Methods: A community based sequential explanatory mixed method study was conducted among the elderly residing in the rural field practice area of a medical college in Puducherry district. 200 participants were recruited by simple random sampling from the family health records in the Rural Health Training Centre of a medical college. WHO QOL-BREF questionnaire was used to assess the Quality of Life quantitatively and an interview guide to explore its determinants. Data were entered in MS excel and analyzed using SPSS v16.0. Results: The mean age of the participants was 68.8± 2.5 years with majority being females. The environmental domain scored the highest mean QOL and psychological domain the lowest mean QOL. The overall mean QOL was 234.8 ± 65.4. The main determinants of poor QOL are age ≥ 75 years, lower socio-economic class, those who are widow/separated and presence of comorbid conditions. The binary logistic regression predicts the factor for poor QOL was age ≥ 75 years with OR (95% CI) as 6.23 (2.44-15.91). Conclusion: The overall mean QOL was moderate. The factors identified for poor QOL need to be addressed with key intervention strategies. Quality affordable medical services at door step to improve physical domain and targeted health education for family members and the community, who form the immediate environment around the elderly, can play a crucial role in enhancing the social domain.

Behavioral health training for integrated behavioral health: A Delphi study

AbstractUsing a classical Delphi design, the authors used an interdisciplinary panel of behavioral health experts in integrated behavioral health (IBH) to identify foundational skills and knowledge counselor educators need to teach clinical mental health counselors for IBH practice. Eighty‐eight statements were identified. Implications are provided for counseling and other behavioral health educators.

The modern role of paraprofessionals in delivering brief psychological interventions

AbstractThe increasing global demand for mental health services, compounded by the COVID‐19 pandemic, has spurred innovative approaches. Among these, the utilisation of paraprofessionals for delivering brief psychological interventions (BPIs) is gaining significant traction across diverse settings and populations. Paraprofessionals (individuals equipped with specialised mental health training but lacking formal qualifications) have emerged as a valuable resource. They have the potential to offer cost‐effective, culturally sensitive and readily accessible support. The integration of paraprofessionals into various healthcare settings, such as inpatient psychiatric units and primary care clinics, underscores their potential to enhance holistic well‐being and early intervention. This integration not only lightens the load on licensed therapists but also broadens access to services while reducing treatment costs. At a global scale, paraprofessionals, armed with local knowledge and community connections, play a pivotal role in improving mental health outcomes among underserved populations. Furthermore, the rise of telemental health, an increasingly crucial aspect of mental healthcare, presents new avenues for paraprofessionals to deliver psychological care. Despite their potential, paraprofessionals encounter challenges related to work‐life balance, boundary‐setting and the stigma attached to their roles. Their integration into healthcare systems requires clear roles and responsibilities, along with continuous support to ensure effective intervention and the well‐being of both providers and recipients. Further research and development are necessary to harness their full potential and meet the increasing demand for accessible mental health services.

Mental health curricula in predoctoral dental school programs: A content analysis.

Given the prevalence of mental health concerns, dentists have an opportunity to provide mental health screenings to enhance overall patient care. The purpose of this study is to summarize and discuss the characteristics of mental health curricula related to patient care in accredited dental schools. We identified accredited predoctoral dental programs incorporating mental health training related to patient care into their curriculum. We summarized course characteristics and thematically analyzed course descriptions using headings from the National Library of Medicine. From our review of curricula from 80 dental programs, 27 included a mental health component, and these were found in both didactic and clinical courses. Behavioral science and building clinical competence were the most common themes. While mental health is an important component in overall patient care, a minority of accredited dental programs' curricula address it. Further, the manner and extent of inclusion varies. Including mental health training into dental curricula will better prepare dentists for their patients' comprehensive health needs.