Training Sessions Research Articles

Empathy Amplified: Exploring the Transformative Potential of Understanding Auditory Hallucinations Through Staff Training.

Stigmatization of individuals diagnosed with psychosis, especially those who experience auditory hallucinations, is a well-documented issue with negative outcomes on provision of care. Existing research has predominantly concentrated on experiential training for students, leaving a significant gap in knowledge regarding the training's impact on practicing psychiatric nurses and technicians. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the efficacy of a concise, 1-hour educational activity designed to improve empathy, confidence, competence, and knowledge in psychiatric professionals. Participants engaged in a 1-hour training session that included simulated activities while listening to distressing voices and completed pretraining and posttraining assessments. Results demonstrated a notable increase in empathy toward individuals who hear voices, suggesting that the training had a positive effect. Furthermore, significant differences were observed in the participants' perceptions of the level of difficulty as well as increased levels of confidence and perceived competence in their ability to provide care. The results underscore the practicality and effectiveness of brief hearing voices simulations as a means to enhance the skills of existing health care providers. This approach allows professionals to better express empathy and gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of voice hearers.

Behavioral skills training for teaching safety skills to mental health service providers compared to training-as-usual: a pragmatic randomized control trial.

Violence in the healthcare workplace has been a global concern for over two decades, with a high prevalence of violence towards healthcare workers reported. Workplace violence has become a healthcare quality indicator and embedded in quality improvement initiatives of many healthcare organizations. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Canada's largest mental health hospital, provides all clinical staff with mandated staff safety training for self-protection and team-control skills. These skills are to be used as a last resort when a patient is at imminent risk of harm to self or others. The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of two training methods of this mandated staff safety training for workplace violence in a large psychiatric hospital setting. Using a pragmatic randomized control trial design, this study compares two approaches to teaching safety skills CAMH's training-as-usual (TAU) using the 3D approach (description, demonstration and doing) and behavioural skills training (BST), from the field of applied behaviour analysis, using instruction, modeling, practice and feedback loop. Staff were assessed on three outcome measures (competency, mastery and confidence), across three time points: before training (baseline), immediately after training (post-training) and one month later (follow-up). This study was registered with the ISRCTN registry on 06/09/2023 (ISRCTN18133140). With a sample size of 99 new staff, results indicate that BST was significantly better than TAU in improving observed performance of self-protection and team-control skills. Both methods were associated with improved skills and confidence. However, there was a decrease in skill performance levels at the one-month follow-up for both methods, with BST remaining higher than TAU scores across all three time points. The impact of training improved staff confidence in both training methods and remained high across all three time points. The study findings suggest that BST is more effective than TAU in improving safety skills among healthcare workers. However, the retention of skills over time remains a concern, and therefore a single training session without on-the-job-feedback or booster sessions based on objective assessments of skill may not be sufficient. Further research is needed to confirm and expand upon these findings in different settings.

Effect of 6-Week Sprint Training on Long-Distance Running Performance in Highly Trained Runners.

Long-distance running performance has been reported to be associated with sprint performance in highly trained distance runners. Therefore, we hypothesized that sprint training could enhance distance running and sprint performance in long-distance runners. This study examined the effect of 6-week sprint training on long-distance running and sprint performance in highly trained distance runners. Nineteen college runners were divided into control (n = 8) and training (n = 11) groups. Participants in the training group performed 12 sprint training sessions in 6weeks, while those in the control group performed 12 distance training sessions. Before and after the interventions, maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max), O2 cost during submaximal running (290m·min-1 and 310m·min-1 of running velocity), and time to exhaustion (starting at 290m·min-1 and increased 10m·min-1 every minute) were assessed on a treadmill. Additionally, the 100-m and 400-m sprinting times and 3000-m running time were determined on an all-weather track. In the control group, no measurements significantly changed after the intervention. In the training group, the time to exhaustion, 100-m and 400-m sprinting times, and 3000-m running time improved significantly, while V˙O2max and O2 cost did not change. These results showed that 6-week sprint training improved both sprint and long-distance running performance in highly trained distance runners without a change in aerobic capacity. Improvement in the time to exhaustion without a change in V˙O2max suggests that the enhancement of long-distance running performance could be attributable to improved anaerobic capacity.

The effect of a suspension training on physical fitness, lower extremity biomechanical factors, and occupational health in Navy personnel: a randomized controlled trial.

Optimal physical fitness is essential for military personnel to effectively meet their rigorous physical demands. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a suspension training program on physical fitness, biomechanical risk factors for lower extremity injury, mental health, and work-related factors in Navy personnel. A total of 50 young men participated in a randomized controlled trial. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups (n = 25): the intervention group and the control group. The intervention group performed an eight-week suspension training session three times per week, while the control group maintained their daily duties. The primary outcome was physical performance. The secondary outcomes were determined biomechanical risk factors for lower extremity injuries, mental health, and work-related factors. The data were analyzed using the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed significant improvements in physical performance, biomechanical risk for lower extremity injuries, and work-related factors from baseline to follow-up (p ≤ 0.05). However, there was no improvement in mental health. Based on these findings, suspension training positively impacted physical fitness, reduced injury risk, and enhanced the work-related factors of Navy personnel. This study provides new insights for various related experts and military coaches because it is an easy-to-use and feasible method with minimal facilities.

Improvements in motor control are associated with improved quality of life following an at-home muscle biofeedback program for chronic stroke

IntroductionChronic stroke survivors with severe arm impairment have limited options for effective rehabilitation. High intensity, repetitive task practice (RTP) is known to improve upper limb function among stroke survivors who have some volitional muscle activation. However, clients without volitional movement of their arm are ineligible for RTP-based interventions and require hands-on facilitation from a clinician or robotic therapy to simulate task practice. Such approaches can be expensive, burdensome, and have marginal effects. Alternatively, supervised at-home telerehabilitation using muscle biofeedback may provide a more accessible, affordable, and effective rehabilitation option for stroke survivors with severe arm impairment, and could potentially help people with severe stroke regain enough volitional activation to be eligible for RTP-types of therapies. Feedback of muscle activity via electromyography (EMG) has been previously used with clients who have minimal or no movement to improve functional performance. Specifically, training to reduce unintended co-contractions of the impaired hand using EMG biofeedback may modestly improve motor control in people with limited movement. Importantly, these modest and covert functional changes may influence the perceived impact of stroke-related disability in daily life. In this manuscript, we examine whether physical changes following use of a portable EMG biofeedback system (Tele-REINVENT) for severe upper limb hemiparesis also relate to perceived quality of life improvements. Secondarily, we examined the effects of Tele-REINVENT, which uses EMG to quantify antagonistic muscle activity during movement attempt trials and transform individuated action into computer game control, on several different domains of stroke recovery.MethodsFor this pilot study, nine stroke survivors (age = 37-73 years) with chronic impairment (Fugl-Meyer = 14-40/66) completed 30 1-hour sessions of home-based training, consisting of six weeks of gaming that reinforced wrist extensor muscle activity while attenuating coactivation of flexor muscles. To assess motor control and performance, we measured changes in active wrist ranges of motion, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, and Action Research Arm Test. We also collected an EMG-based test of muscle control to examine more subtle changes. To examine changes in perceived quality of life, we utilized the Stroke Impact Scale along with participant feedback.ResultsResults from our pilot data suggest that 30 sessions of remote training can induce modest changes on clinical and functional assessments, showing a statistically significant improvement of active wrist ranges of motion at the group level, changes that could allow some people with severe stroke to be eligible for other therapeutic approaches, such as RTP. Additionally, changes in motor control were correlated with the perceived impact of stroke on participation and impairment after training. We also report changes in corticomuscular coherence, which showed a laterality change from the ipsilesional motor cortex towards the contralesional hemisphere during wrist extension attempts. Finally, all participants showed high adherence to the protocol and reported enjoying using the system.ConclusionOverall, Tele-REINVENT represents a promising telerehabilitation intervention that might improve sensorimotor outcomes in severe chronic stroke, and that improving sensorimotor abilities even modestly may improve quality of life. We propose that Tele-REINVENT may be used as a precursor to help participants gain enough active movement to participate other occupational therapy interventions, such as RTP. Future work is needed to examine if home-based telerehabilitation to provide feedback of individuated muscle activity could increase meaningful rehabilitation accessibility and outcomes for underserved populations.

A Simple Tube Escape Assay to Test Learning and Memory in Zebrafish with Minimized Habituation.

Various methods have been used in rodents to evaluate learning and memory. Although much less frequently used, the zebrafish emerges as an alternative model organism in this context. For example, it allows assessing potential behavioral deficits because of neurodevelopmental disorders or environmental neurotoxins. A variety of learning tasks have been employed in previous studies that required extensive habituation and training sessions. Here, we introduce a simpler and faster method to evaluate learning and memory of zebrafish with minimum habituation. A new apparatus, a transparent L-shaped tube, was developed in which we trained each zebrafish to swim through a long arm and measured the time to swim through this arm. We demonstrate that in this task, zebrafish could acquire both short-term (1 h) and long-term memory (4 days). We also studied learning and memory of a gene knockout (KO) zebrafish that showed social impairments related to autism. We found KO mutant zebrafish to show a quantitative impairment in habituation, learning, and memory performance compared with wild-type control fish. In conclusion, we established a novel learning apparatus and sensitive paradigm that allowed us to evaluate learning and memory of adult zebrafish that required only a brief habituation period and minimal training.

The effect of spaced E-Learning on knowledge of basic life support and satisfaction of nursing students: a quasi-experimental study

AimCardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training is essential for all students, especially nursing students. One of the educational approaches to creating long-term learning in inclusive is spaced learning. Spaced learning consists of three or more training sessions in which information is presented over time and at intervals. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of basic life support (BLS) training through spaced E-learning on the knowledge and satisfaction of nursing students.MethodsIn this quasi-experimental study with two groups, 106 undergraduate nursing students of Alborz University of Medical Sciences in Iran participated. The control group (n = 47) received BLS training with massed E-learning in one three-hour session, and the intervention group (n = 59) received spaced E-learning in three one-hour sessions. An electronic questionnaire including demographic information and a pre-test of BLS knowledge were sent to both groups. Also, immediately after receiving the training, two weeks later and one month later, they completed a post-test of BLS knowledge. Students were asked to indicate their level of satisfaction with the provided education by completing the SLS-OLE.ResultsThe post-test scores immediately after, two weeks later, and one month later of the intervention group were higher than the control group. The results of repeated measurement ANOVA showed that the score changes of knowledge are significant over time (p < 0.001), the number of sessions (p < 0.001), and the interactive effect of them (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the level of satisfaction with education in both groups.ConclusionBased on the results, BLS training in both groups increased the knowledge of BLS. however, the increase in knowledge and its retention was higher in the intervention group that received the training in spaced learning.

Effect of in-hospital training on medical errors made by teams during neonatal resuscitation.

Neonatal resuscitation is one of the most critical and risky events that requires a high level of individual skill and team performance. To evaluate the effect of training of resuscitation teams on the frequency and type of medical errors (ME) that result from neonatal resuscitation. A prospective observational study was performed using a checklist to detect ME related to neonatal resuscitation. The rate of ME was 24.82%. There was a significant reduction in the percentage of errors from 17.28% in pre- pre-training phase to 7.54% in post post-training phase. Near miss MEs (98.77%) were significantly higher than adverse events. The active errors were significantly higher than latent errors, P <0.001, and decreased from 39.19% during pre-training to 19.64% in the post-training phase. The commission ME s were significantly higher than the omission, P <0.001. The latent errors percentage was 41.17% of the total errors and were not significantly reduced after training. Training sessions reduced ME that occurred during resuscitation, however careful distinguishing and recognizing the type of MEs is important to plan for further reduction of errors. Special attention to latent errors is imperative as it needs a specific approach rather than just training.

Perception and Adoption of Government Agricultural Technologies among Smallholder Farmers in Western Uganda

Agriculture production and productivity remain key to feeding the growing population with agriculture extension being at the centre of the performance of the agricultural sector in Uganda. Research shows that improved technologies promoted through extension service provision could have an even greater impact on food production and on farmers’ livelihoods in developing countries like Uganda. This study was conducted to investigate the perception and adoption of improved agriculture technologies under the government extension system among smallholder farmers in Kagadi District, mid-western Uganda. Data was collected using a questionnaire from 149 randomly selected households in three sub-counties. Results generated using Excel and SPSS revealed a high positive perception index of +0.63 for government extension services. The level of adoption of improved technology based on generalised partial adoption was 54.3% with farm size and training attendance being the significant factors affecting adoption of improved agricultural technologies in the study area. It is clear from the results that notable differences exist in terms of the perceptions of government extension services and the adoption of improved agricultural technologies. The general observation of farmers’ perception is that government extension service is helpful to farmers and is the major source of agricultural information in the area. Efforts should be made to support access to arable land and intensification of agricultural training sessions coupled with appropriate mobilisation of farmers to attend such training. Further studies should be done to understand these aspects on a wider scope in the country since this study was only conducted in one district. There is also needed to study the factors individually as well as the relationships with other factors to determine the adoption processes of technological advancement

Improving balance using augmented visual orientation cues: a proof of concept

Falls are a major health concern. Existing augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality solutions for fall prevention aim to improve balance in dedicated training sessions. We propose a novel AR prototype as an assistive wearable device to improve balance and prevent falls in daily life. We use a custom head-mounted display toolkit to present augmented visual orientation cues in the peripheral field of view. The cues provide a continuous space-stationary visual reference frame for balance control using the user’s tracked head position. In a proof of concept study, users performed a series of balance trials to test the effect of the displayed visual cues on body sway. Our results showed that body sway can be reduced with our device, indicating improved balance. We also showed that superimposed movements of the visual reference in forward-backward or sideways directions induce respective sway responses. This indicates a direction-specific balance integration of the displayed cues. Based on our findings, we conclude that artificially generated visual orientation cues using AR can improve balance and could possibly reduce fall risk.

The Development of an Opioid Misuse Training Program for Physical Therapists: A Learning Community Approach.

Musculoskeletal pain and opioid misuse frequently co-occur. The US Preventive Services Task Force calls for all health care providers to be trained to screen for misuse and/or opioid use disorder. The purpose of this study was to develop and implement an opioid misuse training program that could be used by physical therapists. Thirteen practicing physical therapists were invited to participate in a curriculum development project. Using the Curriculum Framework, a collaborative learning approach was used to develop an opioid misuse training program and training manual for physical therapists. Four training sessions were provided virtually every 2 weeks. Topics included an introduction to the opioid crisis, screening, assessing, and communicating with patients and with the health care team about opioid misuse. Each didactic session was followed by a participant feedback session where participants provided recommendations on improving the training content and their impressions on the barriers and facilitators to incorporating the training into practice. A companion training manual was created and sent to participants for comment. Participants were asked over email to describe whether and how they incorporated training materials into clinical practice during the training curriculum. All participants attended sessions 1-3. Twelve (92.3%) attended the fourth session. Based on the participants' feedback, training sessions were edited, and a companion training manual was finalized and distributed to each participant. After the fourth session, 9 participants (69.2%) reported using what they learned in the training. During the participant feedback sessions, participants regarded the training as important. Some participants expressed barriers to discussing opioids with patients and concerns about whether the training was within physical therapists' scope of practice. An iteratively developed training program for physical therapists to address opioid misuse was acceptable, feasible, and provided immediate practice change by most participants.

Modern Illegal Drug Business in Ukraine: Multidisciplinary Study of the System of Prevention and Countermeasures Against the Legalization of Income (Money Laundering) Obtained by Criminal Means

Established that the modern illegal drug trade is an integral part of transnational organized crime, involving the laundering of proceeds obtained through criminal activities. A comprehensive multidisciplinary study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Ukraine's efforts to combat the contemporary drug trade and to analyze the international system for preventing and countering the legalization of illicit income (money laundering). This study confirmed the connection between transnational organized crime and the laundering of money derived from the illegal trafficking of banned psychoactive substances. The research emphasized the critical need to enhance the criminal and legal frameworks, improve medical and pharmaceutical support, and expand social and economic assistance. By examining the global experience in combating organized crime and drug-related offenses, the study provided valuable insights into effective strategies. Particular attention was given to forensic pharmaceutical practices related to the detection of prohibited psychoactive substances and the legalization of income from their illicit trade. To address these challenges, the study recommends increasing the criminal liability for members of organized drug trafficking gangs and suggests specific amendments to articles 115, 305, and 307 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code. Furthermore, a detailed analysis of the European Union’s roadmap and international cooperation efforts in combating the illegal circulation of prohibited psychoactive substances and the laundering of illegal profits was conducted. Normative initiatives aimed at amending Article 209 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code were developed and proposed. The study indicated the importance of implementing the EU Roadmap measures in Ukraine to foster cooperation among various private and public institutions. This collaborative approach aims to coordinate joint actions, conduct research, and organize conferences and training sessions based on the EMCDDA European prevention program and UN initiatives. The study underscores the relevance, timeliness, and practical significance of engaging the international community, including scientists, medical professionals, pharmacists, students, the public, legal experts, law enforcement, and government authorities. Through this multidisciplinary approach, the study seeks to promote a more effective and coordinated response to the challenges posed by the modern drug trade and its associated criminal activities.

Exercise interventions following bariatric surgery are poorly reported: A systematic review and a call for action.

This study assessed the transparency and replicability of exercise-based interventions following bariatric surgery by evaluating the content reporting of exercise-based clinical trials. The study design of the present article is a systematic review. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences, PsycINFO, and Cochrane were searched from their inception to May 2023. Eligible studies were clinical trials including exercise interventions in participants following bariatric surgery. There were 28 unique exercise interventions. Two independent reviewers applied the exercise prescription components of Frequency, Intensity, Time, and Type (FITT; four items) and the Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT; 19 items). Exercise interventions were organized into four major exercise components: aerobic training, resistance training, concurrent training, and "others." The FITT assessment revealed that 53% of the trials did not report the training intensity, whereas 25% did not indicate the duration of the major exercise component within the training session. The mean CERT score was 5 out of a possible score of 19. No studies reached CERT score >10, while 13 out of the total 19 CERT items were not adequately reported by ≥75% of the studies. This study highlights that the exercise interventions following bariatric surgery are poorly reported, non-transparent, and generally not replicable. This precludes understanding the dose-response association of exercise and health-related effects and requires action to improve this scientific field.

A community based intervention to modify preventive behaviors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in children: a randomized controlled trial based on PRECEDE PROCEED model

ObjectivesIran ranks among the top six countries globally with a significant incidence of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL). Using planning models is one community-based intervention to promote preventive behaviors. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model (PPM) in modifying preventive behaviors related to CL in children through mother training in a community intervention.MethodsA randomized controlled trial based on the PPM model was conducted on 168 mothers (intervention (n = 84) and control group (n = 84) with 10 years old children in the rural areas of Iran. Mothers from 7 village areas were randomly allocated to the intervention (2 village) and control groups (5 village). The intervention group received a program comprising eight 90-minute training sessions and environmental interventions. In this study, we utilized the PPM as a framework to design the questionnaires on Leishmaniosis prevention behavior. Participants in both groups completed the questionnaires at baseline (before the intervention), immediately after the intervention, and at the 2-month follow-up. Analysis of the data was conducted utilizing SPSS20, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.ResultsCompared to the control group, the intervention group showed significant increases in knowledge, enabling factors, reinforcing factors, attitude, and preventive behaviors related to Cutaneous Leishmaniasis over time from baseline to follow-up (P < 0.001). No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in the alterations of the PPM construct, knowledge, and preventive behaviors within the control group from pre-intervention to follow-up.ConclusionsCommunity (education and environmental) intervention based on PPM is feasible and acceptable to modify preventive behaviors of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in children by increasing a mother’s knowledge and attitude as well as changing enabling and reinforcing factors.Trial registrationIRCT20160619028529N8.

Infant action understanding: the roles of active training and motor development

IntroductionThis study examined the potential interplay between motor development and intervention in support of action understanding.MethodsEighty nine-month-old infants completed a tool-use training session and goal imitation paradigm that assessed action understanding in counterbalanced order. A metric of motor development was obtained using the Early Motor Questionnaire.ResultsResults indicated that training improved action understanding, particularly for those infants who started out with lower means-end skills. Results further indicated that infants who did not receive any training experience in the lab beforehand, drew on their existing means-end skills.DiscussionThese results emphasize independent contributions of training and motor development on action understanding and shed light on the interaction between training and individual motor readiness in facilitating action understanding in infancy.

Online palliative care education and mentorship in Nepal: Project ECHO - a novel approach to improving knowledge and self-efficacy among interprofessional health-care providers.

Palliative care access in Nepal is severely limited, with few health-care providers having training and skills to pain management and other key aspects of palliative care. Online education suggests an innovation to increase access to training and mentoring, which addresses common learning barriers in low- and middle-income countries. Project ECHO (Extensions for Community Health Care Outcomes) is a model of online education which supports communities of practices (COPs) and mentoring through online teaching and case discussions. The use of online education and Project ECHO in Nepal has not been described or evaluated. An online course, consisting of 14 synchronous weekly palliative care training sessions was designed and delivered, using the Project ECHO format. Course participants included health-care professionals from a variety of disciplines and practice settings in Nepal. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of a virtual palliative care training program in Nepal on knowledge and attitudes of participants. Pre- and post-course surveys assessed participants' knowledge, comfort, and attitudes toward palliative care and evaluated program acceptability and barriers to learning. Forty-two clinicians, including nurses (52%) and physicians (48%), participated in program surveys. Participants reported significant improvements in their knowledge and attitudes toward core palliative care domains. Most participants identified the program as a supportive COP, where they were able to share and learn from faculty and other participants. Project ECHO is a model of online education which can successfully be implemented in Nepal, enhancing local palliative care capacity. Bringing together palliative care local and international clinical experts and teachers supports learning for participants through COP. Encouraging active participation from participants and ensuring that teaching addresses availability and practicality of treatments in the local health-care context addresses key barriers of online education. This study describes a model of structured virtual learning program, which can be implemented in settings with limited access to palliative care to increase knowledge and attitudes toward palliative care. The program equips health-care providers to better address serious health-related suffering, improving the quality of life for patients and their caregivers. The program demonstrates a model of training which can be replicated to support health-care providers in rural and remote settings.

The Validity and Reliability of a Real-Time Biofeedback System for Lumbopelvic Control Training in Baseball Players

Background: This study validates real-time biofeedback for lumbopelvic control training in baseball. The lumbopelvic region is crucial for generating kinetic energy in pitching. Real-time biofeedback enhances training effectiveness and reduces injury risk. The validity and reliability of this system were examined. Purpose: This study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the real-time biofeedback system for lumbopelvic control training. Methods: Twelve baseball players participated in this study, with data collected in two sessions separated by a week. All participants needed to do the lateral slide exercise and single-leg squat exercise in each session. Pelvic angles detected by the real-time biofeedback system were compared to the three-dimensional motion capture system (VICON) during training sessions. Additionally, pelvic angles measured by the biofeedback system were compared between the two training sessions. Results: The real-time biofeedback system exhibited moderate to strong correlations with VICON in both exercises: lateral slide exercise (r = 0.66–0.88, p &lt; 0.05) and single-leg squat exercise (r = 0.70–0.85, p &lt; 0.05). Good to excellent reliability was observed between the first and second sessions for both exercises: lateral slide exercise (ICC = 0.76–0.97) and single-leg squat exercise (ICC = 0.79–0.90). Conclusions: The real-time biofeedback system for lumbopelvic control training, accurately providing the correct pelvic angle during training, could enhance training effectiveness.

Effects of 12 weeks of functional and resistance training on stress perception and sleep quality in Bra-zilian older people

The study investigated the effects of a 12-week functional and resistance training program on the perception of stress and sleep quality in Brazilian older people, involving 49 participants. The Perceived Stress in older adults and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used. The training protocol included a general warm-up, resistance and functional training sessions, followed by a cool-down phase, held twice a week, lasting an average of 60 minutes over the 12 weeks. Data analysis was performed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, bootstrapping, t-tests and Pearson correlation, with a significance level of p &lt; 0.05. The results showed a significant reduction in sleep disturbance and total sleep quality score after the intervention. Men initially had lower stress and better sleep quality in some aspects compared to women, while older people between 60 and 69 years old had improvements in sleep quality in certain aspects before and after the intervention, compared to older people aged 70 and over. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between the perception of stress and several components of sleep quality, such as subjective quality, duration and total score. In short, the study demonstrated that the exercise program had varying impacts on sleep quality, but not on the perception of stress among the older people, highlighting a significant improvement in sleep quality after the intervention. Keywords: Aging. Exercise Therapy. Sleep Quality. Psychological stress. Physical education.

Impact of COVID-19 on the primary level teaching-learning process in rural India

PurposeCOVID-19 outbreak impacts people globally. It is not simply a global health matter; it has a terrible influence on the social life of humans, counting the worldwide education structure and other phases of present social configurations. Therefore, the present study's objective is to identify the impact of COVID-19 on the online education approach in teachers' perceptions.MethodologyThe study performs a mixed research approach for evaluating the teachers' perspectives in the online education system. The quantitative data are collected with the support of a questionnaire from 175 respondents (Public School teachers), and in-depth telephonic interviews are conducted among 25 schoolteachers using a semi-structured questionnaire for qualitative data. The quantitative analysis is performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), and the qualitative analysis is coded and analyzed thematically.FindingsThe quantitative results show that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the online teaching method; teachers' adaptation here seems low. In contrast, communication with school leaders is provided a clear view of online teaching methods. The key findings from the qualitative analysis show that the adaptation online education system is complex owing to various struggles. Some institutions facilitate training sessions to teach in a range of adopting the online education system. Finally, the teachers need help making students actively participate in online classes.DiscussionThe study conducts original survey through both interview and questionnaire. The results are determined through thematic and data analysis.

A TRACER STUDY ON BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION - FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT GRADUATES FROM ACADEMIC YEAR 2019 TO 2023

This study aimed to assess the employment rates and employability status of graduates from the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Financial Management program at Kapalong College of Agriculture, Sciences, and Technology from 2019 to 2023. It also examined graduates attitudes towards work, the quality of education provided by the institution, and their skills development. Using a descriptive research method, a total of 587 respondents participated in an online survey conducted through Google Forms. Findings revealed that 88.17% of financial management graduates were employed, with 52.07% working in job-related professions such as credit &amp; collection assistant, entrepreneur, cashier, auditor, bookkeeper, inventory personnel, accounting staff, and account officer. Additionally, 30.77% were employed in non-related fields including office-based clerk, government employee, sales agent/specialist/representative, call center agent, marketing specialist, technical staff, and photographer. Among the employed graduates, 37% held regular positions, 33% were on job order, 16% worked on a contractual basis, 8% were casual employees, and 6% were self-employed. Furthermore, only 0.85% pursued a Master in Business Administration, while 4.26% became teacher education unit earners. The study found that graduates consistently exhibited very high levels of attitude towards work, quality education provisions, and skills development. However, computer and ICT skills received the lowest mean score, suggesting a need for the program to offer practical training sessions, workshops, or laboratory sessions to enhance students proficiency in these areas. Providing opportunities for students to practice using computer software and applications in simulated business environments or real-world projects is recommended.