Triangulation Mixed Methods Research Articles

Virtual Reality-Based Exposure With 360° Environments for Social Anxiety Disorder: Usability and Feasibility Study.

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a long-term and overwhelming fear of social situations that can affect work, school, and other daily activities. Although cognitive behavioral therapy is effective, few seek treatment, and many who do start often drop out. This may be due to the component of exposure inherent to cognitive behavioral therapy, where the patient confronts feared stimuli outside the therapist's office, which they otherwise try to avoid. As an alternative, research has explored the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR)-based exposure therapy with promising results. However, few studies have investigated the feasibility of VR tools using mixed methodologies before assessing their efficacy. This study aims to assess the usability, feasibility, and presence of four 360° virtual environments and whether these were able to evoke anxiety in patients with SAD. A total of 10 adult participants with SAD and 10 healthy controls were recruited for 1 experimental session (age range 21-32 y; 12/20, 60% male participants). Questionnaire and interview data were collected and analyzed. A mixed methods triangulation design was applied to analyze and compare the data. Participants with SAD experienced increased anxiety when exposed to VR, and environments were considered relevant and useful as an exposure tool. Participants with SAD reported significantly higher average anxiety levels (P=.01) and peak anxiety levels (P=.01) compared with controls during exposure; however, significant differences in anxiety when accounting for baseline anxiety levels were only found in 2 of 4 environments (P=.01, P=.01, P=.07, and P=.06). While presence scores were acceptable in both groups, participants with SAD scored significantly lower than controls. Qualitative analyses highlight this finding within the SAD group, where some participants experienced presence reduction due to being observed while in VR and in situations with reduced interaction in VR. VR exposure with 360° videos seems to be useful as a first step of exposure therapy for patients with SAD. Future exploration in the clinical application of VR-based exposure for SAD, as well as means of increasing presence within the virtual environments, may be useful.

Community-Based Mycetoma Surveillance in Uganda: Identifying Knowledge Gaps and Training of Community Health Workers to Improve Case Detection.

Mycetoma is an uncommon and neglected tropical disease in Uganda. We aimed to assess baseline knowledge and provide community health workers (CHWs) in Northern Uganda with knowledge to identify and refer presumptive mycetoma cases. Between March and August 2023, we conducted a concurrent triangulation mixed methods study among CHWs in Gulu and Pader districts on mycetoma. We conducted a 1 day in person training on mycetoma. Quantitative data were collected before (pretest), immediately (immediate posttest) and six months (6-month posttest) after the training and results compared using paired sample t test or one-way ANOVA. Qualitative data were collected using four focused group discussions, audio recorded, and analyzed using thematic content analysis. Forty-five CHWs were enrolled, mostly male (66.7%, n = 30), with a median age of 36 years (IQR 29 43). Out of a total score of 18, the baseline mean knowledge score was 7±2.42, improving to 11±1.99 immediately posttest (p<0.001), and 10±2.35 at 6 months (p<0.001), without additional training. Significant knowledge improvements at 6 months were observed among female participants (p = 0.004), those aged 30 40 years (p = 0.031) or 40+ years (p = 0.035), and those with secondary education (p = 0.007). Over 6 months, CHWs screened 2,773 adults, identifying and referring 30 presumptive mycetoma cases. Qualitative findings revealed challenges and barriers to early identification and referral of mycetoma presumptive cases including limited knowledge, stigma, myths, lack of an indigenous name for mycetoma, delayed decision making, and transportation barriers. This study highlights a significant knowledge gap among CHWs about mycetoma, with substantial improvement following training. The identification of presumptive cases by CHWs reflects their potential in community-based surveillance, emphasizing the need to integrate well-trained CHW to lead efforts for mycetoma surveillance and capacity building to enhance health outcomes in Uganda.

Un/met: a mixed-methods study on primary healthcare needs of the poorest population in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan

BackgroundAccess of all people to the healthcare they need, without financial hardship is the goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). As UHC initiatives expand, assessing the needs of vulnerable populations can reveal gaps in the system which may be covered by relevant policies. In this study we (i) identify the met and unmet primary healthcare needs of the poorest population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (KP), Pakistan, and (ii) explore why the gaps exist.MethodsWe used Leveque’s Framework of Patient-centred Access to Healthcare to examine unmet primary healthcare (PHC) needs and their underlying causes for the poorest population in four districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. Using a triangulation mixed methods design, we analysed data from a quantitative household survey of744 households, 17 focus group discussions with household members and, 11 interviews with healthcare providers.ResultsOur results show that indicate that despite service utilization, PHC needs were not met, primarily due to prohibitively high costs at each stage of access. Furthermore, gaps in outreach and information (approachability), and varying availability of medicines and diagnostics at facilities (appropriateness) the supply side as well as difficulties in navigating the system (inability to perceive) and adhering to prescriptions (inability to engage) on the demand side, also led to unmet PHC needs. Going beyond utilization, our findings highlight that engagement with care is an important determinant of met needs for vulnerable populations.ConclusionSocial health protection policies can contribute to advancing UHC for primary care. However, in our setting, enhancing communication and outreach, addressing gender and age disparities, and improving quality of care and health infrastructure are necessary to fully meet the needs of the poorest populations.

Informing inclusive and affirmative hospital pharmacy services for 2SLGBTQ+ patients.

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. Two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (2SLGBTQ+) people disproportionally experience health disparities, and hospital pharmacists, given their accessibility and expertise in medication management, are ideally positioned to provide care to this vulnerable population. This study investigated the barriers and facilitators faced by hospital pharmacists when providing care to 2SLGBTQ+ patients, with the goal of informing enhancement of quality care provided to these patients. A mixed-methods triangulation design was utilized, comprising an online survey and qualitative interviews with Canadian hospital pharmacists. The survey used the lens of systemic oppression as a framework and assessed pharmacists' perceptions and knowledge. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. A total of 129 individuals participated in the survey, and 15 participants were interviewed. Eleven themes were identified, and findings revealed a complex web of individual, interpersonal, and systemic barriers and facilitators. Pharmacists expressed a lack of proficiency and confidence in discussing 2SLGBTQ+ health topics, further compounded by an apprehension to engage and a fear of causing harm. Pharmacists desired support from their leadership teams and organizations in the form of access to resources, time to engage in training, and workplace environments that encourage discussions about 2SLGBTQ+ health. Hospital pharmacists in Canada are willing to provide inclusive care to 2SLGBTQ+ patients but face significant barriers. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive education, supportive workplace cultures, and accessible resources to address health disparities and improve care for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals.

Identifying the Determinants of Hookah Smoking Among the Youth; A Mixed-Methods Study.

Hookahs have been rising in popularity in the United States (U.S.) especially among the youth yet not much research has been carried out to understand the various predictors of hookah use among youth. We have thus conducted a cross-sectional study with a mixed-methods triangulation design to identify the hookah use determinants at different levels of the Social Ecological Model among youth. Participants between the ages of 18-24 years were sampled purposively, between April to November 2023, following a snowballing technique from various communities in Virginia and California, United States. Data were collected via a survey, one-on-one interviews, and focus groups. The study had a total sample size of 20. We found that participants smoked for a median of 5 times in the past 30 days. The main determinants of hookah smoking included the limited knowledge of health effects and addiction, positive attitude, family and peer influence, use as a means to socially connect with others, culture, social acceptability, lack of education at school and work place, access to hookah bars and smoke shops, and lack of strict enforcement of laws to ban smoking of youth. Educational interventions should be implemented by public health authorities to target the youth, their social and communities to provide education on hookah harm and addictiveness and to restrict access to- and the production, distribution, marketing and sales of hookahs.

A Mixed Methods Study Exploring Patient Safety Culture at Four VHA Hospitals

BackgroundThe Veterans Administration (VHA) launched an enterprise-wide High Reliability Organization (HRO) transformation effort in February 2019. Yet, many gaps exist in understanding the mechanisms through which HROs achieve positive outcomes. The goal of this paper is to assess content validity of Patient Safety Culture (PSC) scale through a secondary analysis of qualitative data collected from four purposively sampled VHA hospitals concurrently with the employee survey administered in 2019-2020. Methods: We used a concurrent triangulation mixed methods design secondary analysis of the qualitative data collected between 2019-2020 from a larger study that focused on understanding HRO implementation efforts at 4 of the 18 VHA HRO lead hospitals. We combined qualitative data from our summary qualitative reports with quantitative ratings in a cross-hospital matrix to explore the extent and manifestation of each of the PSC factors. Results: Scores were significantly different between the 4 hospitals for all four PSC factors. Twelve of the twenty PSC items (60%) significantly differed across the 4 hospitals. Despite the high rate of statistically significant differences in PSC scores, many differences were small. Qualitative data revealed supporting evidence for 16 of 20 PSC individual items, suggesting good coverage and content validity for the quantitatively derived PSC factors. Conclusions: PSC is a central pillar of HRO maturity. This study shows a newly developed VHA PSC factor had good content validity based on a mixed methods analysis. Future research is needed to better understand the relationship of PSC factors to HRO process and clinical outcomes.

School-based tobacco prevention and cessation program using psycho-education and counselling: a mixed method

Introduction. In Malaysia, tobacco-related causes of death have claimed an estimated 27,400 lives annually, and that number is anticipated to climb in the coming years. Despite laws in Malaysia banning smoking in public areas, restrictions on tobacco sponsorship, promotion, and advertising in all media, as well as Graphic Warning Labels (GWLs) on cigarette packets and restricting the legal smoking age to 18 years, it is well-known that children and teenagers are involved and youth tobacco usage is rising. As there is a rise in the prevalence of tobacco use so is the call for effective school-based tobacco prevention and cessation program for children and teenagers. The study set out to understand the current level of knowledge, attitude, and behaviour of children and teenagers towards tobacco use and possible change through psycho-education and counselling towards prevention and cessation. Study participants and methods. This study adopted a pre and post Mixed Method Triangulation Design: Convergence Model. There was an independent and concurrent collection of quantitative and qualitative data from school children ages 11 to 18 years and 7 to 10 years respectively. A one-day four-module school-based prevention and cessation program was developed and carried out in five approved schools and data were collected before and after the program. The mean age for the quantitative study was 13 years, 66% were males and 34% were females. For the qualitative study, the mean age was 9 years, 54% were male and 46% were female A grand total of 131 students participated in the study. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired samples t-test thematic analysis. Results. The quantitative analysis showed a significant difference between knowledge test scores before psychoeducation intervention (M=.803; SD=.1793) and Knowledge test scores after the psycho-education intervention (M=.895; SD=.1193); [t (108) = -4.596, p = .000], attitude and behavior were insignificant Results from the thematic analysis on the qualitative results showed that the psychoeducation and counselling intervention had a significant impact only on knowledge. The children report on attitude and behaviour towards tobacco did not significantly change from before to after the program. The timing between the program and postdata may be a contributing factor but irrespective of the data collection method the outcome was similar for both children and teenagers. Practical Significance. Through psycho-education and counselling towards prevention and cessation the study set out to understand the current level of knowledge, attitude, and behaviour of children and teenagers towards tobacco use and possible change through psycho-education and counselling towards prevention and cessation. Therefore, intervention programme should include psychoeducation and counselling to improve the knowledge of students in school-based interventions.

Experiences of seeking diabetic eye care among patients with diabetes in China: a community-based convergent mixed methods study

ObjectivesThis study aimed to characterize the most updated utilization of eye care services and obtain a holistic understanding of barriers among patients with diabetes in China. Study designThis was a convergent mixed methods study. MethodsA convergent triangulation mixed methods approach was used, with a quantitative cross-sectional survey of patients with diabetes and semistructured interviews involving patients and health workers. Following the conceptual framework of the World Health Organization Determinants of Health Behaviours, multivariate logistic regression for quantitative analysis and thematic analysis for qualitative data were used to examine barriers to seeking eye care among patients with diabetes. Triangulation was used to integrate quantitative and qualitative results. ResultsAmong 1167 surveyed patients who participated in the quantitative component, 29.1% had undergone eye examinations within the last 12 months, and 9.3% had received eye surgery. Awareness that diabetes causes eye diseases (P < 0.001) and knowing laser treatment can treat diabetic retinopathy (DR; P < 0.001) were associated with higher examination rates. In the qualitative component, involving 20 patients and 11 health workers, barriers were identified from individual, social, and cultural environmental factors. Integration of data highlighted the complex interplay of these factors in shaping care-seeking behaviors and the importance of non-economic factors, including patients' information about costs of DR services and cultural environmental factors. ConclusionsDiabetic eye care utilization remains suboptimal in China, emphasizing the impact of cultural and contextual factors. Comprehensive education strategies, along with training for primary health workers and task-shifting, are likely to enhance eye care service utilization in underserved settings.

Ethical decision‐making approach of school counseling: A concurrent mixed methods study for taking actions

AbstractThe main purpose of this research was to identify ethical decision‐making approaches in school counseling. The study focused on the experiences of secondary school counselors in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A concurrent triangulation mixed methods design was used for getting a complete understanding of ethical decision‐making approaches of school counseling. Forty participants were involved in the quantitative part of the study, while six participated in the qualitative part of the study. For the quantitative aspect, a survey was utilized, and the data were analyzed using tables, frequencies, and percentages. The result showed that participants used variety of approaches to deal with ethical challenges for school counseling, including open discussion, personal sense of morality, and respecting code of students' discipline. However, the least percentage (22.5%, n = 9) has observed for using of code of ethics in counseling profession. In the qualitative part, semi‐structured in‐depth interviews were used to explore the experiences of ethical decision‐making and the meaning of those experiences for secondary school counselors currently practicing at Addis Ababa city. Qualitative data were analyzed by using thematic analysis technique. The major ethical decision‐making approaches identified in school counseling were (a) building a good relationship and guaranteed confidentiality, (b) referral linkage, (c) training for students and collaboration, and (d) life experience and personal sense of morality. The most common meanings attributed to dealing with ethical challenges in school were the urge to share information with to get personal relief, feeling of stress, and gain personal satisfaction from acts of compassion. Implications are forwarded to support school counselors in taking an action for professional development and to promote quality of school counseling practices.

Knowledge sharing technologies for rice farmers: A perspective from the Eastern Region of Ghana

This article investigates technologies used for knowledge sharing among rice farmers in the Eastern Region of Ghana and suggests ways by which the use of technologies may be enhance rice farming. The research was underpinned by the pragmatic paradigm where a concurrent triangulation mixed method design was adopted. The data was drawn from 101 survey respondents and nine interview participants, consisting of rice farmers, farm managers and extension officers. The findings revealed elementary use of technologies, tools and systems for knowledge sharing among the rice farmers. The main social media platform used for knowledge sharing was WhatsApp. The platforms that were used the least were Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Imo and Instagram. Findings have implications for integrating various tools, technologies and systems into knowledge sharing among rice farmers. There is a need to address the challenges in structural-level technological infrastructures, architecture and functionalities, in order to build the technological competence of rice farmers. Farmers’ knowledge of technology is influenced by training, motivation, and personal experiences. Previous studies on use of technologies in knowledge sharing focused on organisation. This article examines technology within the context of rice farming.

Accommodating diversity in linguistic and intercultural teaching: can CLIL do the job?

ABSTRACT This article carries out a comparison of frontline stakeholder perspectives in order to determine whether CLIL can accommodate diversity in linguistic and intercultural teaching. It reports on a cross-sectional concurrent triangulation mixed methods study with 2,676 teachers, students, and parents in 36 Primary and Secondary schools across Spain. It employs four types of triangulation and carries out across-cohort comparisons in order to determine the potential of CLIL to provide diversity-sensitive teaching. This study positively disrupts some previous trends and evinces that, as mainstream bilingual programs become ingrained in our education systems, measures to cater for diversity are also increasingly apparent.

Use of ChatGPT for education by engineering students in developing countries: a mixed-methods study

ABSTRACT Developing countries face challenges in AI integration into learning initiatives. With the widespread use of ChatGPT, many concerns were expressed. Thus, it is crucial to investigate students' attitudes toward ChatGPT and the factors influencing their decision to continue using it in the future. We used a mixed-methods triangulation design based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and collected data based on convenience sampling from N = 195 engineering students in developing countries through semi-structured surveys with open-ended questions. Quantitative analysis included descriptive statistics and logistic regression, while thematic analysis was used for the qualitative part. Most students (89.69%) use ChatGPT, with all the elements of the UTAUT framework being strong predictors of their intention to continue. Most have continuous internet access and feel comfortable using technology. High-frequency usage, perceived benefits, and peer encouragement positively influence students' intention to continue using ChatGPT. However, concerns about accuracy, privacy, and laziness negatively correlate with usage intention. Address personal, institutional, and governmental concerns to integrate ChatGPT safely in educational systems, ensuring equitable access and preparing for future e-learning initiatives.

Bridging Cree knowledge and Western science to understand the decline in hunting success of migratory Canada geese

Canada goose (Branta canadensis) is one of the main waterfowl species harvested by Cree hunters in James Bay, Canada. Land users who hunt geese along coastal Eeyou Istchee (Eastern James Bay, Quebec) report that they are now much less successful in harvesting sub-arctic breeding geese (B. c. interior) than in the 1980s, especially during the fall hunting season. We followed a mixed-methods triangulation design in which we simultaneously gathered Indigenous and scientific knowledge. For the Indigenous knowledge, we conducted semi-structured interviews with Cree land users who shared their knowledge about how the goose populations that stage in Eeyou Istchee have changed within living memory. They attributed their reduced hunting success to fewer migrating geese and modification of their behavior. They also identified many environmental changes, especially the decline of eelgrass (Zostera marina), that may have affected the number, distribution, and migration patterns of Canada geese along the coastal Eeyou Istchee in the past 50 years. We complemented this information using waterfowl study techniques including aerial surveys, band recovery analyses, and GPS tracking of individually marked geese. Habitat changes both at the local scale in Eeyou Istchee and in other parts of the staging and wintering ranges of Canada geese, natural and human disturbances along the coast, and a gradual increase in molt migrant temperate breeding Canada geese (B. c. maxima) likely resulted in changes in habitat use and migration patterns of sub-arctic breeding Canada geese along the James Bay east coast. By bridging Cree knowledge and Western science, we identified the various factors that affect the harvest success of Eeyou Istchee goose hunters. Such an approach should be encouraged when Indigenous peoples rely upon migratory bird or mammal species that spend only a portion of their annual cycle within the hunting territories of land users.

THE IMPACT OF EDUCATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS' ATTITUDES ON STUDENTS' ACADEMIC AND CAREER INTERESTS IN CERAMICS WITHIN THE KUMASI METROPOLIS, GHANA

Educational programmes whether vocational or not have the potential to shape students to be able to give back to their societies. Unfortunately, some attitudes of players of education can affect students so much to dampen their self-efficacy and interest in Ceramics education. This study investigated some educational stakeholders' and their attitudes that can possibly have negative impact on students' academic and career interest in Ceramics within the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana. Three schools offering Ceramics in the metropolis were purposively selected. They consisted of one mixed-gender, one boys-only, and one girls-only schools. The study was exploratory research and adopted the QUAN+Qual mixed-methods triangulation to conduct the investigation. Data was concurrently gathered using questionnaire, interviews and observation. 273 participants, including students, teachers, schools’ heads and parents were sampled from the three selected schools. Four Likert scale questionnaire and “Yes or ‘No’ data type was employed where SPSS v24, excel spreadsheet applications as well as frequencies and percentages (descriptive statistical techniques) helped to simplify and interpret the data. The study's findings revealed that educational stakeholders such as parents, students and their peers, teachers and schools’ managers put up behaviours that discourage students’ interest in Ceramics. The study found that low employment opportunities in Ceramics is the primary reason why parents, students, and teachers discourage students’ academic and career interest in Ceramics. The study also conducted a chi-square to establish whether the age, programme and level in school had any correlation with their believe that there is a low employment opportunity in Ceramics. The results found that the level of students alone to have significant correlation with p&gt;0.000.

Study Protocol of Implementation and Evaluation of Aging Home Modification Intervention Program (AhMIP) for Iranian Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Introduction With the rapid increase in the older population in Iran, the housing needs of this age group are also changing. The residential environment plays an important role in the ability of older adults to perform daily activities. This study will be conducted to implement and evaluate a home modification intervention program to support older adults. Method This paper describes the protocol for a triangulation mixed methods design study with three substudies. The first substudy is a cross-sectional study to be conducted on 422 community-dwelling older adults to assess their current status at home, functional abilities, fear of falling, and quality of life. In the second substudy, a randomized clinical intervention trial will be conducted on 116 older adults (58 intervention group and 58 control group) with the intervention of home modifications based on the results of the Home Falls and Accidents Screening Tool. The third substudy is a qualitative study with an in-depth, semi-structured interview approach to find out about older adults’ experienecs regarding AhMIP. Conclusion The quantitative and qualitative findings of this study can be useful in designing intervention programs to improve the living environment of older Iranian adults and promote their quality of life.

Perceptions on Medical Professionalism Among Future Healthcare Professionals: A Mixed Method Study.

Background Accreditation councils across the world constantly examine policies and practices in professionalism in their medical curriculum. The National Medical Commission (NMC) in India has recognized the pressing need to reform and include professionalism in its undergraduate curriculum. Objectives The objective of this study was to explore the perspectives of medical and nursing students on professional behavior, suitable teaching-learning methods, and assessment strategies for curriculum integration. Methodology The study utilized a concurrent triangulation mixed method design, collecting both qualitative and quantitative data simultaneously to gain a comprehensive understanding of medical and nursing students' perceptions of professionalism. It included 83 final-year undergraduate medical students and 42 final-year undergraduate nursing students. The approval of the Institutional Review Board of Meenakshi Medical College Hospital & Research Institute was obtained. A semi-structured questionnaire consisting of demographic characteristicsand opinions regarding academic professional behavior, teaching-learning, and evaluation of professionalism was used. Perceptions regarding the meaning of professionalism, behavior of professionalism to be emphasized in teaching, and pressing challenges of professionalism were explored. Students were also asked to rank the best behavior associated with professionalism. Frequency and percentages were used for descriptive statistics. Means and standard deviations were calculated for continuous variables. An unpaired t-test was used to determine a statistically significant difference between the means in the two groups. The quantitative data was analyzed with R programming and content analysis was performed for the qualitative data using ATLAS.ti qualitative data analysis software. Results Unexplained/unauthorized absence from academic activities (2.39 ± 1.553), not following the timeline (2.41 ± 1.560), making fun of patients and peers (2.16 ± 1.619), cheating in the exams (2.37 ± 1.651), and inebriation (2.39 ± 1.666) were unacceptable behaviors by undergraduate medical students compared with nursing students. Clinical experience (1.54 ± 0.857) and role models (1.74 ± 0.935) were the highly acceptable methods of teaching professionalism and interprofessional interactions (1.58 ± 0.650) and awards (1.98 ± 1.100) were the most common suggestions to improve the course curriculum by both groups. Community/field activity (1.78 ± 0.860) and clinical examination (1.89 ±1.123) were the most preferred methods of evaluation of professionalism. According to the students, dedication, honesty, respect, and self-improvement were identified as the best behaviors associated with professionalism. Conclusions The study revealed that students had a wide range of perspectives about professionalism. Different unprofessional acts were acceptable to students. The causes of these perspectives need to be explored and resolved to promote professionalism. Students identified the need for strong positive role models and frequent clinical experiences, along with improved interprofessional interactions and awards to improve teaching and learning professionalism. Community/field activity was the preferred assessment method proposed by the students. Medical institutions must promote these components in curriculum, faculty development, and clinical settings to foster the development of professionalism among students.

The Integration of Sustainable Development Goals in the Secondary Science Curriculum of Cordillera Administrative Region

Schools play a crucial role in education for sustainable development. The aims of this study are to determine the extent of the incorporation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the secondary science curriculum and the extent of knowledge and attitude of science teachers regarding SDGs. The research design was concurrent triangulation mixed method. Purposive sampling was used in the selection of the science curriculum while convenience sampling was used in determining the participants for the survey and focus group discussion. The locale of the study is at Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines. Findings show that the clusters of the SDGs related competencies of the Junior High School science curriculum are 51.61% knowledge, 21.29% values, and 21.19% skills. The dimensions reveal 14 learning competencies for social, 25 environmental, and 23 economic. This means that students are taught the interconnection of social, ecological and economic issues as evident in the curriculum. Furthermore, the extent of knowledge of science teachers regarding SDGs is high (M = 3.10, SD = 0.15) while the attitude is very positive (M = 3.46, SD = 0.09). Pearson correlation indicates weak positive correlation between the two variables, r=.37 while regression test showed significant correlation between knowledge and attitude, r=.37, p=0.03. Therefore, due to the inclusive nature of the SDGs, they are a great tool for expanding the science curriculum by giving real-world scenarios and life skills. SDGs are also helpful teaching resources that offer depth and perspective to scientific lessons.

Monitoring of aviation personnel potential according to the competence approach

The object of the study is the personnel potential of aviation. The paper considers the problem of the effectiveness of monitoring the quality of airline personnel. According to the results of the study, it was stated that the stable growth in the volume of international cargo and passenger air transportation requires full-fledged provision of aviation with highly qualified specialists, a shortage of which has been observed in airlines in most countries of the world for several years. It is emphasized that a shortage of highly qualified specialists can be avoided only with the introduction of monitoring of the qualitative composition of the aviation personnel potential according to the competence approach. An algorithm has been developed for monitoring the qualitative composition of human resources based on the audit of compliance of professional competencies of civil aviation personnel with international standards of ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency), IATA (International Air Transport Association) using triangulation of mixed methods. The expediency of using the monitoring results as a fundamental basis for building a centralized information platform with open access to information resources on the qualitative composition of the personnel potential of airlines and the industry is justified. It is reasonable that the implementation in practice of the algorithm for monitoring human resources according to the competence approach will allow stakeholders to have a clear understanding of the level of professional competence of personnel and the need to improve it in the short term, which will accelerate the elimination of the existing shortage of highly qualified specialists by timely taking measures to amend state programs for training civil aviation specialists, improving their qualifications and certification. It is emphasized that the application of this algorithm is possible in the presence of a sectoral qualifications framework

Implementation of Synoptic Reporting for Endoscopic Localization of Complex Colorectal Neoplasms.

Introduction Lack of documented tattooing of colorectal neoplasms at index colonoscopy results in high repeat preoperative colonoscopy rates. We developed national consensus recommendations for endoscopic localization and piloted an electronic synoptic reporting template. We report on the implementation and perceptions of using synoptic reporting to enhance colorectal lesion marking in a central Canadian healthcare system. Methods We implemented the template within our endoscopy reporting system and ran an infographic education campaign. We then conducted a follow-up email-based interview with all regional endoscopists. Thematic analysis and a mixed-methods triangulation approach were employed to synthesize qualitative and quantitative data. Results The interview was completed by 28/52 endoscopists (54%). Most (60.7%; n = 17) completed >100 colonoscopies and 71.4% (n = 20) identified six to 20 neoplasms requiring tattooingsince introduction. A total of 50% (n = 14) used the template. Those not using it were unaware of it (42.9%; n = 12), or preferred using narrative text (17.9%; n = 5). Users reported modest mean functionality scores (intuitiveness: 3.56/5; efficiency: 3.7/5) and high impact scores (credible: 4.22/5; informative: 4.21/5). However, the perception of the synoptic template's ability to reduce the repeat preoperative colonoscopy rate was more circumspect (3.76/5). Conclusions Endoscopists believed the synoptic template was a functional, impactful tool that would improve communication and help to decrease the repeat preoperative colonoscopy rate. However, synoptic template uptake was limited by provider awareness, therefore more educational efforts are needed to increase uptake.

LEADERS ROLE IN IMPLEMENTING INTEGRATED FUNCTIONAL ADULT EDUCATION IN GUTO GIDA WOREDA OF EAST WOLLEGA ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

The objective of this research was to examine the leadership roles and challenges in implementing IFAE in Guto Gida Woreda. The study employed descriptive research type with concurrent mixed method design or triangulation Design. Data was collected concurrently and mixed during data interpretation. In order to select the 279 sampled respondents from the target population of 788 from woreda and 8 kebele leaders, adult education facilitators and adult education currently attending the program, stratified, systematic and purposive sampling techniques were employed. Data were collected from both primary sources and secondary sources. Quantitative data collected through questionnaires were analyzed by using descriptive statistics. The qualitative data collected through interview, FGD, and document review analyzed through thematic analysis. The reliability test is 0.89 which implies that the instruments for data collection are reliable and the response rate of the study is 97.13% which is adequate. The finding of the study revealed that there are limitations such as the absence of adult students’ enrolment, irregular attending of the class, the program not based on adult students’ interest, low program completion by the students; and existence of gaps in improving adults’ basic literacy skill. Similarly, the findings indicated the existence of gaps in implementing leadership roles of creating a vision, decision making, strategically planning and monitoring and evaluating IFAE implementation performance. The study conclude that the current practice of IFAE implementation is poor; leaders in the study have limitations in discharging their leadership roles mainly due to challenges like financial, material and resource; human weak institutional cooperation and community awareness. Based on this, it is recommended to give proper attention; articulate clear vision, and plan strength stakeholder participation, communities create awareness and design strong monitoring and evaluation system in order to improve IFAE implementation in the woreda.