Education Training Research Articles

Professionalisation and Autonomy of the Occupational Therapist Profession in Poland

Abstract Occupational therapy has been practised for several decades across various medical entities. However, it was only since 2012 that opportunities for professional development in this area began to be created. It can be considered that with the establishment of higher education training in occupational therapy, the perception of this profession has changed and is becoming increasingly important among professionals and the Polish society. Various measures are being taken to regulate the profession (including a law on certain health professions currently under procedure in the Sejm), but the topic of professionalisation and autonomy is still not sufficiently explored and addressed in Polish literature. The aim of this article is to present occupational therapists’ opinions on the professionalisation and autonomy of their profession. A questionnaire was used to survey 188 middle-aged people (35.18±9.72 years). The results show a need to regulate the occupational therapist profession, to guarantee assistance for therapists in improving their qualifications and to increase their remuneration. According to a significant number of respondents, therapists are undervalued and treated unequally in their work environment. The prestige of the occupational therapist profession was rated at a low level. The main conclusion of the study indicates that in the process of professionalisation and autonomy of the profession in Poland, more attention should be paid to the promotion of the contemporary model of occupational therapy in order to increase its recognition and raise awareness of the essence and importance of the role of an occupational therapist in both the medical (therapeutic team) and social environment.

Model Kepemimpinan Visioner Kyai dalam Mengembangkan Pendidikan Pesantren

This study investigates how Kyai visionary leadership contributes to the development of training education in Indonesia. This research reveals how kyai, as a visionary leader, can lead the coaches in facing the challenges and changes of the modern world while preserving traditional Islamic values. The research uses a qualitative approach that involves in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis. Kyai plays an important role as a spiritual and moral guide, creating a supportive and inclusive environment for academic and personal growth. The study emphasizes the importance of visionary leadership in curriculum development, promoting a learning culture that fits students' needs, and how it affects student performance and overall training effectiveness. The study also found the benefits of Kyai visionary leadership in improving the quality of education and building the creative character of the centre. The results provide practical insights for educators and leaders in the Islamic education system, especially the practitioners. They also offer advice to encourage dynamic and supportive future leadership practices.

Model Validation and Real-Time Process Control of a Continuous Flow Ohmic Heater

Ohmic heating is a highly efficient method for rapid fluid heating, with applications in fields such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, and chemical engineering. Prior to its industrial application, thorough analysis and modeling are crucial to ensure safe and efficient operations. Therefore, this research focuses on the development and validation of a transfer function-based model for a continuous flow ohmic heater (CFOH). Validation metrics include root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). The developed model achieves an RMSE of ±1.48 and a MAPE of ±2.58% compared to experimental results, demonstrating its accuracy. Furthermore, the research presents the implementation of robust real-time applications of advanced process controllers, including PID, MPC, and AMPC. These controllers were first simulated using the developed model and subsequently deployed in the pilot plant ohmic heater system to achieve precise temperature control and optimised input voltage. The reliability of this procedure was affirmed through a comparison between simulated results and empirical data obtained from the CFOH pilot plant. The study concludes by suggesting potential applications in fault diagnosis, educational training, system identification, and controller design.

European hydrogen train the trainer framework for responders: Outcomes of the HyResponder project

HyResponder is a European Hydrogen Train the Trainer programme for responders. This paper describes the key outputs of the project and the steps taken to develop and implement a long-term sustainable train the trainer programme in hydrogen safety for responders across Europe and beyond. This FCH2 JU (now Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking) funded project has built on the successful outcomes of the previous HyResponse project. HyResponder has developed further and updated educational, operational, and virtual reality training for trainers of responders to reflect the state-of-the-art in hydrogen safety, including liquid hydrogen, and expand the programme across Europe and specifically within the 10 countries represented directly within the project consortium: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. For the first time, four levels of educational materials from fire fighter through to specialist have been developed. The digital training resources are available on the e-Platform (https://hyresponder.eu/e-platform/). The revised European Emergency Response Guide is now available to all stakeholders. The resources are intended to be used to support national training programs. They are available in 8 languages: Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian and Spanish. Through the HyResponder activities, trainers from across Europe have undertaken joint actions which are in turn being used to inform the delivery of regional and national training both within and beyond the project. The established pan-European network of trainers is shaping the future in the important for inherently safer deployment of hydrogen systems and infrastructure across Europe and enhancing the reach and impact of the programme.

Use of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Technologies to Support Resilience and Skill-Building in Caregivers of Persons With Dementia: A Scoping Review.

Dementia presents a growing public health challenge with most affected individuals living at home, placing significant responsibility on their caregivers. Various interventions, from traditional support groups and education programs to emerging technologies, and more specifically virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), aim to enhance caregiver skills. While VR/AR shows promise in educating and fostering empathy among caregivers and healthcare professionals, its overall effectiveness and practicality in older adults and dementia care warrant further exploration. This review aimed to summarize currently available VR and AR interventions tailored for family caregivers of persons living with dementia (PLWD) in home or clinical settings, including their level of effectiveness, and to compile a summary of features that contributed to technology acceptance in family caregivers of PLWD. We conducted a systematic search in OVID PsychInfo, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and ERIC, as well as CADTH's Grey Matters, OpenGrey, National Technical Information Service, OAIster, and Health Quality Ontario, to comprehensively summarize the existing evidence underscoring the role of VR and AR in supporting education, resilience-building, and skills training for family caregivers of PLWD. The search terms were built with the assistance of a research librarian and involved synonyms for VR, AR, and dementia. Two screeners conducted a rigorous screening and data extraction to analyze and summarize findings. Studies were included if they focused on family caregivers engaging in interventions utilizing a three-dimensional VR environment and/or Metaverse for group learning in psychotherapeutic modalities such as psychoeducation, therapy, communication, and skill-building. The primary outcome of the studies was assessing measures of well-being (e.g., quality of life, communication, interaction, personhood) and learning outcomes for caregivers, while the secondary outcomes focused on identifying barriers and facilitators influencing the acceptability of VR/AR among dementia caregivers. Content analysis and descriptive statistics were used to summarize key trends in technology and evidence effectiveness and acceptability. Of the 1,641 articles found, 112 were included, with six articles meeting inclusion for analysis. Studies differed in duration and frequency of data collection, with interventions varying from single events to months-long programs, often employing home-based approaches using VR or online platforms. No study used AR. Usability issues and unclear benefits of use were identified as factors that hinder technology acceptance for dementia caregivers. However, technologies demonstrated engaging user experiences, fostering skill-building, confidence, and competence among caregivers. Positive psychological effects were also observed, facilitated by immersive VR and AR interventions, resulting in improved caregiver empathy and reduced stress, depression, and loneliness. VR and AR interventions for family caregivers ofPLWD show the potential to enhance empathy and skills and reduce stress. Challenges such as technological limitations and user inexperience issues persist. Home-based VR training aligns with caregiver comfort but lacks focus on financial aspects and cultural competencies. Co-design approaches offer solutions by addressing user concerns and promoting end-user engagement or empowerment.

Specialized training organization for faculty members at educational institutions, developing educational management officials

The faculty team plays a crucial role in determining the quality of education in institutions. To meet the demands for enhanced training quality, educational institutions and training centers for educational management officials need strategies and training plans to develop the specialized skills and expertise of faculty members. Within this framework, the author discusses various issues related to the professional skills and expertise of faculty members, proposing directions for organizing training to enhance their professional capabilities in educational institutions and training centers for educational management officials. Keywords: Faculty, Training, Professional Expertise, Education Management Training.

Effect of skill-based educational training for ambulance personnel on neonatal transportfor newborn care in coastal South India - a single arm intervention study.

Education of '108' ambulance personnel involved in transporting neonates may improve outcomes. We assessed i) perceptions/practices of '108' ambulance personnel for transporting neonates, ii) clinical parameters of transported neonates at arrival, and iii) outcomes such as survival/mortality and NICU stay (before and after skill-based educational intervention). We conducted a single-arm intervention study (pre-and post) over 18 months. We assessed the perceptions and practices of 77 ambulance personnel on neonatal transport pre- versus post-intervention. Checklists assessed ambulance equipment availability/usage in both phases. We compared clinical parameters and outcomes of transported neonates between the pre-intervention (n=62) and post-intervention (n=53) phases. We analyzed data using SPSS version 25. Post-intervention, there was a significant reduction in the levels of hypothermia (p < 0.001), hypoglycemia (p=0.010), and prolonged capillary refill time (p=0.042), along with improvement in the use of intravenous fluids (p <0.001), a reduction in the positivity of umbilical swab growth (p=0.002) and in the duration of NICU stay (p = 0.001), significant improvement (p < 0.001) in the perceptions/practices of ambulance personnel towards neonatal transport. There was an improvement in the ambulance equipment availability/usage post-intervention. The perceptions and practices of the '108' ambulance towards transporting neonates had significantly improved post-educational intervention. Further, a significant decrease in hypothermia, hypoglycemia, and duration of NICU stay was seen in neonates transported post-intervention.

Modelos pedagógicos para la formación docente en el uso de la tecnología para la enseñanza del inglés: Revisión sistemática

The incorporation of Information and Communication Technologies to education is a fact in the con-ception of future teaching and learning methodologies. In the field of English Teaching, this integra-tion becomes an opportunity to move students closer to the culture and authentic target language registers. Remote Learning and Teaching for Emergency during Pandemic Times has revealed the potential of students and teacher to learn and adapt to new technologies; however, it has also expo-sed the urgent necessity of designing training programs that prepare educators to incorporate digital tools into their didactics. This review revises studies that present pedagogical and methodological models to train educators in the use of ICT for teaching, specifically for English Language Teaching, and those models that intend to affect Teachers’ Digital Competence. This qualitative synthesis, which arises from publications issued from 2016 to 2022, allows the author to describe the current state of the issue, and to provide recommendations for the creation of pedagogical or didactic designs to train teachers in the use of ICT for ELT.

Valuation of knowledge, attitude, practices of tuberculosis among the health care workers from Islamabad Pakistan

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) as a foremost infectious disease adds massive burden to morbidity and mortality rate, despite of well-structured TB control programs around the globe. Inappropriate health care management system and poor implementation on standard in relevance to TB, remain some reasons causative to TB prevalence and its rising antimicrobial resistance. Health Care Workers (HCWs) laboring as a part of TB control system, are the vital warriors in achieving the goals of TB End Strategy by 2035. Their performance is influenced by their knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) toward this infectious disease. This study aimed to signify the role of KAP score of health care Workers in the better control and prevention of TB in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Pakistan. MethodsA cross-sectional study on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice study of Tuberculosis (TB) among health care Workers, was done in ICT, which is the capital of Pakistan. The KAP of TB was collected for the 306 Health Care Workers from all the Islamabad TB referring health facilities which refer the TB patients for testing to the National Reference Laboratory, Islamabad Pakistan. Eligible health care workers were requested to respond on KAP questionnaire after informed consent. KAP questionnaire comprised of knowledge, attitude, and practices section including demographic information. All the data was analyzed using IBM SPSS statistics 21. One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was applied to calculate KAP mean score against different variables. On the significant data sets of ANOVA output, Tukey's Multiple Comparison Test was applied for pairwise comparison. Pearson correlation coefficient was utilized to explore the association between two qualitative variables. The non-parametric tests were applied to evaluate difference of KAP score in relation to demographic covariates individually. ResultsFrom June to July 2023, we conducted TB KAP study among Health Care Workers of ICT, Pakistan. The average age was 33 years (range 26–30 years). Majority of the recruited subjects were not being trained for dealing with TB infection. The results demonstrated that Health Care Workers working were lacking their knowledge about mode of TB transmission, best diagnostic technique, and contraction of TB infections. The mean knowledge, attitude and practices mean scores were 15.05 (SD = 3.96), 83.68 (SD = 15.74) and 6.31 (SD = 2.21), respectively. Mean knowledge score of Health Care Workers were significantly related to their educational level and occupation while no significant association was declared with working experience as TB staff. Pearson coefficient of attitude score with knowledge of Health Care Workers was of weak level (0.28). Practice mean score was correlated to knowledge mean score at a moderate level (r = 0.40). On the other hand, practice score was r = 0.29 with attitude mean score had shown weak level correlation. A number of demographic factors were strongly linked to each of the mean score of knowledge, attitude, and practices. ConclusionThese findings highlighted the significant involvement of education, profession, and professional trainings in the better knowledge, attitude, and practices of the TB related health care Workers. For a better management system of infectious diseases like TB, a well-trained and professionally competent staff of Health Care Workers is important so as to achieve the goal of TB-End strategy by 2035 from Pakistan, which is the 5th highest burden country for TB.

Publication trends on sports sociology: Global perspectives and emerging themes

This study examined the depiction of publication trends and the transformation of scholarly discourse within sports sociology publications. The investigation utilised the Scopus and WoS databases to compile a comprehensive list of sports sociology publications. Employing ScientoPy and VOSviewer, the study dynamically constructed science maps and visualisation networks. In the Scopus database, there were 516 publications, and in the WoS, 216, resulting in 732 publications, constituting 79.13% of the overall count between 1990 and 2022. Sports Sciences emerged as the predominant field with 119 publications, and the most prolific source title over the three decades was the International Review for the Sociology of Sport. The United States and Germany stood out as the top two countries, each contributing over 100 publications. The keyword “sports sociology” demonstrated close associations with “development,” “athlete,” and “physical education,” particularly evident since 2015. This study is poised to lay the groundwork for future endeavours to enrich and invigorate sports sociology research. It underscores the need for sports sociologists to delve into novel insights, including the interplay between sports sociology and mental health, gender disparities, sports injury management, and artificial intelligence. The intriguing social dimensions of physical education and sports training are underscored for their significance in shaping daily human activities, behaviours, and emotions.

The impact of simulation-based training in medical education: A review.

Simulation-based training (SBT) has emerged as a transformative approach in medical education, significantly enhancing healthcare professionals' learning experience and clinical competency. This article explores the impact of SBT, tracing its historical development and examining the various types of simulations utilized today, including high-fidelity mannequins, virtual reality environments, standardized patients, and hybrid simulations. These methods offer a safe and controlled environment for students to practice and hone technical and non-technical skills, ultimately improving patient safety and clinical outcomes. The benefits of SBT are manifold, including enhanced skill acquisition, error reduction, and the opportunity for repeated practice without risk to actual patients. Immediate feedback and structured debriefing further solidify learning, making Simulation an invaluable tool in medical education. However, the implementation of SBT is challenging. It requires substantial financial investment, specialized equipment, and trained faculty. Additionally, there are concerns about the realism of simulations and the transferability of skills to real-world clinical settings. Despite these challenges, numerous case studies and empirical research underscore the effectiveness of SBT compared to traditional methods. Looking ahead, advancements in technology, such as artificial intelligence and improved virtual reality applications, promise to enhance the efficacy and accessibility of simulation training. The integration of Simulation with other training modalities and its adoption in diverse global contexts highlight its potential to revolutionize medical education worldwide. This article affirms the crucial role of SBT in preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals and its ongoing evolution driven by technological innovations.

Transfers, taxes and tax credits for those on low incomes: beyond Mirrlees

Abstract For any given amount of tax revenue obtained from a specific tax, the standard model of economists focuses on the financial incentives in the tax schedule and requires that inevitable and unavoidable trade-offs are made between individuals who receive different levels of tax rates. Increasing the work incentives for one group or in one part of the earnings distribution necessarily requires that those incentives are decreased for some other group or in some other range. But a more attractive set of policy options consists of those that combine these considerations with work programmes drawn from a mix of employment and human capital strategies for different segments of the recipient population. Worth exploring are greater connections between individuals on benefit and the educational sector, sectoral employment and training strategies—including some with conditionality, even if only in a mild form—and other strategies to increase long-run earnings capabilities.

Student’s Satisfaction with the Structuring of Educational Training Activities at the National Academy of Educational Management

Student’s Satisfaction with the Structuring of Educational Training Activities at the National Academy of Educational Management

The Effect of Pedagogical Training in Higher Education on the Newly Employed University Teacher’s Approach to Teaching and Self-efficacy Beliefs in Algerian Universities

"To align with society’s ever-changing needs, the principal goal the university seeks to achieve within the community shifted from providing knowledge through teaching to the strategic role of knowledge production by applying skills. Accordingly, the implementation of the L.M.D. system in Algerian universities focused on supporting the students’ learning process and emphasized student work; this imposed new pedagogical teaching methods and raised the need to improve the pedagogical skills of university teachers. This study aims to determine the impact of pedagogical training in higher education for newly employed teachers at Algerian universities on their approach to teaching, as measured by the Approaches to Teaching Inventory list, and on their self-efficacy beliefs, as measured by the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire. Data were collected in a pre-post design; a questionnaire was designed based on the measurement methods and sent electronically twice to a sample of 50 newly employed teachers before and after pedagogical training. The study finds no statistically significant differences in the teacher-centered or in the student-centered approach among newly employed teachers, and no statistically significant differences in their self-efficacy beliefs before and after pedagogical training. Pedagogical training is not helping newly employed university teachers to center their teaching approach around the student."

Empowering educators: addressing drug abuse among students in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges

ABSTRACT Addressing drug abuse is crucial in South Africa, especially in Technical and Vocational Education. This study examines educator training for managing student substance abuse. The study utilised a non-experimental quantitative exploratory design, surveying all 337 educators from selected Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges in South Africa’s Limpopo Province. The study discovered that educators consistently linked certain behaviours with suspected student drug abuse, facilitating early identification. However, there was notable diversity in how educators proposed handling students with suspected drug abuse, with a significant portion lacking training in this area. The research highlighted varying perspectives on the significance of educator-student relationships. It points out the crucial need for comprehensive training for Technical and Vocational Education and Training college educators in addressing student drug abuse. The findings provide a foundation for future research and interventions in this domain, not only in South Africa but also in similar educational settings globally.

Determining the awareness of surgical nurses regarding frail patients: a cross-sectional study

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the knowledge level and awareness of surgical nurses about fragile patients. Method: Obtained through Introductory Information Survey Form created by the researchers and Fragile Patient Information Evaluation Form methods. Results: The average age of the surgical nurses participating in the study was 28±5.01 years, the average professional experience was 5±5.09 years, and the average experience in the service they worked in was 3±2.83 years. The rate of those who heard the term 'frailty' for the first time is 63%. It was stated that 92.7% of the 110 surgical nurses participating in the study did not receive any training on fragility; It was stated that 50.9% of them think of the most vulnerable and weak patient when they think of a fragile patient. While 50% of them stated that when they suspected frailty in the patient, they evaluated involuntary weight loss, slowness (slowness in walking, muscle weakness), and fatigue; 70% stated that the biggest risk factor for frailty is being depressed or using antidepressant medication. Conclusions: According to the results of the study, it can be said that the awareness of surgical nurses about the "fragile patient" should be increased. In the light of the data obtained, it can be suggested to organize trainings on "fragile patients" for surgical nurses. 'Fragile patient' education should be included in pre-graduation education and in-service training.

Comparative Analysis of Online Assessment Methods and their Impact on Student Satisfaction in Higher Education in Australia

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the accessibility and inclusivity in online education: a comparative study of policies and practices in Australia. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The study compared Australian policies and practices in online education accessibility and inclusivity, revealing notable gaps in implementation despite progress. It emphasized the necessity of comprehensive policies and ongoing educator training to address diverse student needs effectively. Overall, it highlighted the importance of continual improvement to ensure equitable access for all students in online education. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Social model of disability, universal design for learning (UDL) &amp; critical pedagogy may be used to anchor future studies on the accessibility and inclusivity in online education: a comparative study of policies and practices in Australia. Develop guidelines and best practices for inclusive course design and delivery in online education, tailored to the Australian context. Advocate for the integration of accessibility and inclusivity mandates into national and institutional policies governing online education in Australia.

Identifying Cambodian teachers' concerns about including students with disabilities in regular classrooms: Evidence from a nationwide survey

AbstractThis study examined teachers' concerns about including students with disabilities (SWDs) in regular classrooms and identified the background variables that were significantly associated with their concerns. A total of 1008 primary school teachers from 236 schools across all 25 provinces and cities in Cambodia participated in the study. The Concern about Inclusive Education Scale (CIES) was used as a research instrument. Descriptive statistics, a principal component analysis, reliability tests, Pearson correlation coefficients and a multiple regression analysis were used for data analysis. The result of the principal component analysis confirmed a four‐factor model for the CIES. The study found that Cambodian teachers had high levels of concern about including SWDs in regular classrooms. They expressed the deepest concerns about the inadequate availability of special education instructional materials and teaching aids, the lack of knowledge and skills required to teach SWDs, the increased workloads and the challenges of providing equal attention to all students. The experience of inclusive education training, years of teaching in regular classrooms, and experience of teaching SWDs were significantly associated with their concerns about inclusion. The findings were discussed with practical implications for improved policy and practice to address Cambodian teachers' concerns and promote their inclusive practices.

655 Aching for Change: Musculoskeletal Pain in the Operating Room Amongst KSS Trainees

Abstract Aim Work-related injuries are common among surgeons, with some studies finding up to 70% report difficulties. Given the increasing career longevity expected from today's surgical trainees, injury prevention is more important than ever. However, ergonomics education for surgical trainees in the UK is deficient. We aimed to gauge whether current trainees in Kent, Surrey, and Sussex (KSS) experience pain whilst operating and what strategies, if any, they utilise. Method A questionnaire was distributed to trainees in the KSS School of Surgery collecting data on basic demographics, pain related to operating and pain management strategies. Results 75 trainees across the KSS region responded. Mean age was 32 years (range 26-42) and median training level was ST4. General surgery (n=22), orthopaedics (n=19) and urology (n=13) were the most prevalent specialties. All trainees reported musculoskeletal pain attributed to operating, with 36% (n=27) experiencing pain “frequently” or “always”. 69% (n=52) found this pain “sometimes”, “frequently” or “always” distracted them whilst operating. The most common sites for pain were the lower back (73%), neck (49.3%), upper back (38.7%) and shoulders (37.3%). No participants had received formal ergonomics training and the majority (86.7%) had not discussed pain with their supervisors. Conclusions Musculoskeletal pain from operating was found to be a common issue in this cohort, with the majority reporting distraction while operating. Ergonomics is not currently addressed by any formal training programmes. We have recommended a regional training initiative for trainees in KSS to address and prevent musculoskeletal injuries.

476 Enhancing Surgical Education: Assessing the Impact of Laparoscopic Simulators in Learning Surgical Anatomy and Improving Surgical Skills

Abstract Aim We assessed laparoscopic simulators' efficacy in teaching surgical anatomy and enhancing surgical skills, offering insights into their role in shaping surgical education. Method 83 medical students and foundation year doctors were surveyed before and after a hands-on laparoscopic simulator session. Using a 5-point Likert scale, perceptions of the simulator's effectiveness in teaching surgical anatomy and the importance of laparoscopic simulator training for improving surgical skills were gauged. Attendees also rated the simulators’ effectiveness in providing information and exposure to Laparoscopic surgery. Scores underwent normality assessment via the Shapiro–Wilk test; a one-tailed T-test gauged statistical significance. Qualitative data was collected for deeper insights. Results Attendees exhibited a significant increase in belief in laparoscopic simulators as an effective means to learn surgical anatomy (mean before = 4.26, after = 4.49, p = 2.41 x 10-3). Agreement increased for the necessity of laparoscopic simulator training in medical education for improving surgical skills (mean pre-event = 4.36, after = 4.55, p = 3.31 x 10-3). Conclusions A notable surge in support for integrating laparoscopic simulators in medical education emerged, indicating a promising avenue for enhancing anatomical understanding in minimally invasive contexts. The positive shift underscores the increasing recognition of laparoscopic simulators as valuable tools for teaching surgical anatomy and skills. Future research should explore the impact of laparoscopic simulation training on long-term outcomes.