Undergraduate Health Students Research Articles

Saúde do trabalhador: um olhar para o Centro Referencial de Saúde

A Saúde do Trabalhador caracteriza-se como um campo de práticas e de conhecimentos estratégicos voltados para analisar e intervir nas relações de trabalho que provocam doenças e agravos. A Educação Interprofissional, nesse contexto, propõe que estudantes de graduação em saúde e profissionais inseridos nos serviços aprendam a cooperar de forma colaborativa na resolução de questões atreladas ao trabalho. Este objetiva relatar a vivência das práticas colaborativas desenvolvidas pelos bolsistas do Programa de Educação Interprofissional em Saúde acerca das ações de prevenção, promoção e educação relacionadas à saúde dos trabalhadores incorporados ao Sistema Único de Saúde. Estudo exploratório, descritivo, de abordagem quantitativa sobre o relato de experiência dos bolsistas no projeto Pet/Saúde Interprofissionalidade. A partir das ações de prevenção e promoção à saúde realizadas nas unidades de saúde, o sexo feminino foi o predominante; a formação de nível superior se fez presente na equipe; percebeu-se um alto índice de sobrepeso e obesidade nos trabalhadores que alegaram não receber capacitação frequentemente na unidade de atuação. Percebeu-se satisfação profissional no ambiente de trabalho. Relataram sofrer ocasionalmente e frequentemente dor na nuca, nas costas e na região lombar; o nível de dor relatado foi de desconfortável à totalmente horrível. A prática da reflexologia refletiu em uma diminuição no nível da dor entre os trabalhadores. Pode-se visualizar o trabalho como fator determinante do processo saúde-doença dos indivíduos e da coletividade. O cuidado à Saúde dos Trabalhadores almeja constituir um novo campo de atuação e intervenção da rede pública de serviços de saúde no Brasil.

Postgraduate Employment Outcomes of Undergraduate and Graduate Public Health Students : A Scoping Review.

A key goal of schools and programs of public health is to prepare graduates for careers in the public health workforce after graduation, but are they achieving this goal? We assessed how the employment outcomes of students earning public health degrees are collected and described in the literature. Using the Kirkpatrick model of training evaluation as a framework, we conducted a 6-step scoping review: (1) formulating the research question, (2) identifying relevant studies, (3) selecting studies, (4) charting the data, (5) collating and summarizing the results, and (6) consulting stakeholders. We included articles published from January 1, 1993, through July 4, 2020, that provided data on employment status, employment sector/industry, job function, or salary of public health graduates. We excluded articles that were not written in English and were about dual-degree (ie, doctor of medicine-master of public health) students. We found and reviewed 630 articles. We found 33 relevant articles. Most articles focused on a single school and combined multiple graduating classes, focused on subspecializations of public health, or focused on graduates' satisfaction with their curriculum but not employment outcomes. Data were inconsistently categorized, and studies were difficult to compare. Research on public health graduates' employment outcomes is scarce and does not follow consistent protocols. New standards should be adopted to systematize the collection of data on employment outcomes of public health graduates.

Exploring Undergraduate Public Health Students’ Experiences of Internship Courses: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Currently, education means providing facilities that enable learners to acquire theoretical information and knowledge and help them put this knowledge into practice. Periodic reviews also serve as a first step required to gain a deeper understanding of problems and access to information and newer solutions. Therefore, to identify the challenges of clinical education, the present study focused on exploring undergraduate public health students’ experiences of internship courses. Methods: This study used the conventional content analysis method. The participants were 11 undergraduate public health students of Qom University of Medical Sciences selected via purposive sampling in 2017. The data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews as well as focus group and the data collection process continued until the data were saturated. The content analysis was performed following Graneheim and Lundman’s model. Results: The analysis of the data revealed five main themes. The main themes identified in this study were weak curriculum planning, poor communication between the faculty and health centers, the students’ unpreparedness to start the internship course, the staff’s lack of cooperation, and students’ expectations. Conclusion: The present study indicated that most students faced many problems during their field internships and they demanded the improvement of the teaching processes of theoretical courses and practical skills. Therefore, officials of the educational system are required to plan more coherent programs, offer both theoretical and practical courses more effectively, and prepare students to start internship courses and establish effective communication.

What are the barriers and facilitators of volunteering among healthcare students during the COVID-19 pandemic? A Saudi-based cross-sectional study

ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to assess the volunteering of undergraduate health students and interns in the Ministry of Health (MOH) services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)...

Self-perception of non-cognitive skills among undergraduate health students during Covid-19

Abstract: Introduction: The social isolation in Brazil imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way in which many undergraduate students have been learning, especially those involved in academic activities, as they now have remote rather than in-person classes. These changes may be beneficial if one considers this time favorable for improving non-cognitive skills, such as self-knowledge, resilience, collectivity, versatility, adaptability and leadership. Objective: This study was aimed at investigating how undergraduate health students in Southeastern and Southern Brazil perceived improvement in non-cognitive competencies during the rapid changes imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: This study evaluated 954 undergraduate health students at Brazilian higher education institutions. An online questionnaire consisting of 25 items was used to collect demographic and academic data as well as the subjects’ perception of non-cognitive feelings and skills during the remote continuation of the undergraduate course. The undergraduate health students’ perceptions were measured using a 10-point Likert intensity scale ranging from “very little” to “very much”. This questionnaire was previously validated in a group of 20 undergraduate students attending different health courses at a higher education institution in the State of São Paulo. Result: Correspondence analysis demonstrated that non-cognitive skills, including feelings, were perceived with varying intensities by the undergraduate students, thus making it possible to observe positive and negative impacts resulting from the changes they experienced. Students in the first and second semesters of their first year of studies tended to show lower collaboration scores than students in the third and fourth semesters; on the other hand, students in the first semester tended to show higher scores of openness to new experiences than students in the subsequent semesters. Conclusion: Overcoming procrastination, taking the lead in their studies, collaborating with peers, and being open to the new were the non-cognitive skills that were strongly perceived during the pandemic. In addition, frustration, lack of motivation, and emotional instability were strongly felt by the students, who considered that the COVID-19 pandemic had negatively affected their performance.

Bullying as a Risk Factor of Depression on Undergraduate Health Students.

Depression is a serious health problem that needs to be treated early so that it does not get worse in the future. Bullying can cause a mental health problem on students. This study aims to analyze the relationship between bullying and depression among undergraduate health students. This was an observational study with a cross-sectional design. Respondents filled out questionnaires online using the Google Form application. A total of 246 undergraduate health students participated in this study. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse the data. There was a relationship between bullying and the incidence of depression in undergraduate health students (AOR: 2.158 (95% CI: 1.050-4.435)) after being controlled by physical attacked, close friends, loneliness, and smartphone addiction. This study proves that bullying is a risk factor for depression. Prevention of bullying is important to prevent depression. Handling and prevention are done by involving peer support from students through peer-counselor or peer-educator programs. Students with severe depression need to be treated further through an appropriate referral system.

PERCEIVED STRESS AND MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN AMONG UNDERGRADUATE HEALTH STUDENTS

ABSTRACT Objective: to assess the association between the presence of perceived stress and reports of musculoskeletal pain among undergraduate health students. Method: a cross-sectional study carried out with undergraduate health students (Nursing, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy, Medicine, Occupational Therapy, and Dentistry) in a public university of southern Brazil. Data collection took place in the period from April to June 2017. An instrument with sociodemographic, habits, health profile, and academic variables was used; as well as the Brazilian version of the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire and the Perceived Stress Scale. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for the analysis. Results: a total of 792 students took part in the study. The students with a high stress level presented more chances for the occurrence of musculoskeletal pain in the vertebral column region (OR=2.92; 95% CI=1.30-6.55), upper limbs (OR=3.27; 95% CI=1.80-5.92) and lower limbs (OR=3.10; 95% CI=1.81-5.29). The variables “not having time for leisure” and “sometimes having time for leisure” presented higher chances of pain in the vertebral column region (OR=2.92; 95% CI=1.30-6.55), upper limbs (OR=3.27; 95% CI=1.80-5.92) and lower limbs (OR=3.10; 95% CI=1.81-5.29). The variables “not having time for leisure” and “sometimes having time for leisure” presented higher chances of pain in the vertebral (OR=3.11; 95% CI=1.84-5.25), Occupational Therapy (OR=2.57; IC95%=1,51-4,38) and Physiotherapy (OR=1.82; 95% CI=1.00-3.31) and being overweight (OR=1.59; 95% CI=1.09-2.31) presented higher chances of pain in the lower limbs. Conclusion: the association between perceived stress and the occurrence of musculoskeletal pain among the students was evidenced, revealing the importance of implementing programs aiming at the students’ health.

Entrepreneurial education influence on the development of self-efficacy and entrepreneurial competences

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate entrepreneurship classes' influence on entrepreneurial self-efficacy and entrepreneurial competences in health academics.Design/methodology/approach: The model by De Noble, Jung, and Ehrlich (1999) was used to measure entrepreneurial self-efficacy and the model by Cooley (1990, 1991) to measure entrepreneurial competences. It is a quantitative, descriptive, and survey research. Two hundred sixty-seven undergraduate health students participated in the study. Statistical analysis used descriptive and correlational statistics with comparison tests.Findings: The results showed that the students who studied entrepreneurship presented higher self-efficacy and entrepreneurial competences, but there were no significant differences between those who studied and those who did not.Originality/value: This study presents the potential for promoting entrepreneurship in HEI for courses that are not directly associated with business management, especially health science courses. When analyzing the participants' behavioral characteristics, we seek to deepen the discussion on the central themes of the study and promote reflections on the importance of entrepreneurial education for the development of future health professionals.

Temple Students Mount Response Against the COVID-19 Pandemic

We are a group of medical, undergraduate, and public health students at Temple University doing our best to support the high-risk population in North Philadelphia during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Our aim is to make and distribute fabric masks to local organizations that support the North Philadelphia community and directly to patients that come to Temple University Hospital.

Educational Resources and Curriculum on Lactation for Health Undergraduate Students: A Scoping Review.

BackgroundBreastfeeding is a fundamental component of health care, and health professionals need to be adequately prepared. As part of the system, health care professionals have the ability to influence the establishment and maintenance of breastfeeding. The global literature regarding the curricular approach or established best practices for health professional education in lactation is inconclusive and lacking in rigor.Research aimTo explore the literature for the educational resources, methods, and curriculum used in the education of undergraduate health students related to lactation.MethodsA scoping review examining the curricular programs of health professional students in lactation was undertaken exploring and summarizing evidence from peer reviewed and grey literature. A scoping review with a five-stage review process was followed. The database search between 1982–2018 generated 625 results, 79 full-text articles were reviewed, and 29 articles published in English met the inclusion criteria.ResultsIn general, educational resources, methods, curricular approaches, and foundational topics were based on best practice standards. Some authors incorporated a variety of learning methods and provided experiential learning, with evidence of translation of knowledge into clinical practice. In the studies examined, researchers reported that students had improved their: knowledge and attitudes (59%); breastfeeding support skills (45%); and confidence (10%). However, even in programs that focused on developing students’ breastfeeding support skills, authors reported a lack of change in students’ confidence.ConclusionsAlthough only English articles met the inclusion criteria, this review was unique in its search of multidisciplinary, multilingual, and international studies. Consistency in teaching across disciplines is key and not evident in the studies reviewed.

The Effect of Lockdown on the Mental and Physical Health of Romanian Medical Undergraduates

As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, medical universities were closed in Romania, between March 2020 and July 2020. The educational process was transferred to an on-line environment, in person contact becoming nonexistent outside the group of people from one’s household. The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of the mental health status in medical undergraduates in Romania during lockdown. A questionnaire was used in April 2020 to collect information regarding the life of students during social isolations and to assess the mental health of students using a self reported 1-7 scale on 21 relevant endpoints. After data quality control, the remaining 1978 data entries were analysed in SPSS 20. We identified multiple factors that may contribute to the mental health of undergraduate students, such as: partner status and offline contact, personality traits, social media and streaming platforms usage. There were differences regarding the mental health status indicated by endpoints between: genders, living environment, owning a pet, etc. This study describes how mental health, a neglected subject in the Romanian public health arena, is influenced by various factors during lockdowns. Further research should be conducted and appropriate measures should be taken to prevent the degradation of mental health in medical students under pandemic circumstances.

Sleep Disorders Among Undergraduate Health Students in Bristol, United Kingdom

Daytime Sleepiness and poor sleep quality are common among medical students. The objective of study is to determine the prevalence of daytime sleepiness and sleep quality and associated risk factors among medical students in medical college, in Bristol, United Kingdom. It was a cross-sectional study and 153 medical students were selected through stratified random sampling techniques. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to assess the sleep pattern and Epworth Sleepiness Scale was used to measure daytime sleepiness. Association of sleep quality and daytime sleepiness and its risk factors were determined through regression analysis. Students suffering from severe disorder of sleep quality was 21.6% and severe daytime sleepiness 3.9%. In multivariate analysis after adjustment of covariates, in daytime sleepiness, male gender (OR.1.33, CI 1.06-3.04) [p-value 0.040] and those students who smoke cigarettes [OR 4.65, (CI 1.48-5.14) [p-value 0.018] were more likely associated with severe daytime sleepiness disorder. In Sleep quality disorder, those students who had low academic score [OR 3.13(CI 1.28-4.87) [p-value 0.035] and those students who smoke cigarettes [OR 3.04 (CI 2.34-4.29) [p-value 0.010] were more than likely associated with severe sleep quality disorder. Majority of students suffered from poor sleep quality and day time sleepiness. Male gender, smoking, academic score and academic years was the major predictor for poor sleep quality and day time sleepiness. There is need for awareness and counselling among student for reduced the sleep disorder burden.

Pedagogical Practices Shaping Professional Identity in Public Health Programs

University academic preparation plays a critical role in guiding undergraduate public health students shape their professional identity (PI) and demonstrate professionalism in their transition to work environments. PI is an understanding of profession-related connections, characteristics, roles, values, standards, and culture continuing over time. Despite evidence supporting PI learning across medicine, nursing, or pharmacy, little is known about public health pedagogic and curricular approaches as important concepts to support PI learning. There is a need for an innovative curriculum redesign to include planning PI experiences, teaching professionalism across courses, and supporting students as they become early career professionals. By acquiring new knowledge and applying those skills during the undergraduate public health courses, students develop a commitment to and pride in their chosen profession. This article gives an overview of PI, provides a PI conceptual framework, and offers 10 suggestions on how to advance PI effectively in the redesigned public health curriculum.

Preparation of undergraduate health and care students from the United Kingdom for an international learning experience in Japan: A phenomenological study

BackgroundGlobalisation, economic migration and people seeking refugee status require cultural competence skills and knowledge to be embedded in undergraduate health and care programmes. International learning experiences can support the development of cultural competence skills. Students require preparation before undertaking international learning experiences to support adjustment to cultural differences. Inadequate preparation could have a negative impact on their ability to learn. Therefore, investigating concerns undergraduate health and care student experience prior to an international learning experience has the potential to enhance the preparation received. ObjectivesTo investigate the experiences of undergraduate health and care students from the United Kingdom prior to participating in an international cultural visit to Japan. DesignA qualitative study using Interpretative phenomenological analysis. MethodsThe lived experience of 7 undergraduate health and care students were explored using reflective semi structured surveys. FindingsThe findings suggest that prior to the visit, undergraduate health and care students experienced a range of fears and anxieties. These were themed under the heading of “Barriers to Learning” and further sub themes of “Being a Stranger”, “Cultural Differences and “Communication”. ConclusionPreparation for undergraduate health and care students undertaking international learning activities is required to enable them to adapt to the culture they are visiting as well as the culture of the group they are travelling with. Recommendations are made for preparing undergraduate health and students for this.

Exploration of unhealthy food consumption patterns in Sleman region by interprofessional undergraduate health students

Despite the average life expectancy of Indonesian people increasing from 63.63 in 1990 to 71.69 in 2016, the gap of life expectancy and healthy age life expectancy also increased from 7.49 to 8.72. RISKESDAS (2018) further highlighted that the proportion of Indonesian people with a healthy diet was poor. These data challenged us to implement an outreach program, Community and Family Health Care – Interprofessional Education (CFHC-IPE), involving our medicine, nursing and nutrition students for assisting families and communities with an aim of improving the population health status. Thus, we assessed their baseline status, in particular, people’s dietary habits. We attached batch 2015 and 2016 students to 465 households with 1,254 family members. We deployed them to 15 different sub-villages in Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta. Students surveyed the families and put the data in family folders during field visits in 2018 – 2019. Our focus was to seek eating patterns of the families and performed descriptive analysis of socio-demographic aspects within those with certain dietary habits using chi-squared tests. Of the 1,254 family members, those who routinely consume fried, sweetened, contained preservatives and grilled foods were 70.14%, 61.00%, 38.13%, and 20.08%, respectively. We found the adults tend to consume more sweetened foods and beverages along with grilled foods compared to the elderly, and the differences of proportions are statistically significant. The CFHC-IPE program partner families were often not realizing that a combination of their dietary habits, in particular, the consumption of fried and sweetened meals might result in threats to the family members’ health. Fried foods were the most routinely consumed followed by sweetened food, grilled foods and foods containing preservatives. These patterns were also the same in both urban and rural settings.

Development of Conceptual Animation Video Library to Explain Health Behavior Theory Applications from the Peer-reviewed Public Health Literature

ABSTRACT Background While most undergraduate students in public health are aware of health behavior theories and models, they lack sufficient knowledge about how to apply and test them in Health Education/promotion research. Purpose: Evaluate eight new conceptual animation (CA) videos that explained theory and model testing in eight research articles from the public health literature. Methods: A convenience sample of public health faculty and undergraduate students pretested the CA video series during Summer 2019. Following pretesting, a convenience sample of 24 undergraduate public health majors completed an online evaluation survey about the CA video series to assess learning outcomes, quality, and student engagement. Results: Every CA video in the series received usability scores (>80.3) consistent with an “A” usability grade. Academic year and student usability ratings were significantly associated with perceived quality of the learning experience, R2 =.18, R2 adj =.14, F 9,229 = 5.28, P <.001. Discussion: The new CA video series improved the quality of students’ learning experience about select public health theories and models, especially among underclassmen. Translation to Health Education Practice: These promising findings warrant further investigation into how conceptual animation can be used as a pedagogical tool to improve student understanding of complex public health concepts.

Item development, internal consistency, and known-groups validity of the Self-Directed Mobility Scale

Purpose The aims of the current study include to: (1) describe the item development; and (2) begin the process of establishing the internal consistency and known-groups validity of the Self-Directed Mobility Scale. The purpose of the scale is to assess paediatric physical and occupational therapists’ views towards self-directed mobility and their perceived ability and intentions to advocate for children’s access to self-directed mobility. Methods Three individuals with expertise in kinesiology, psychology, paediatric rehabilitation, and disability studies served as the expert panel for item development. Four samples were included to determine internal consistency and known-groups validity: 350 physical therapists, 89 occupational therapists, 279 kinesiology undergraduate students, and 528 health and wellness undergraduate students. Results The internal consistency was above the acceptable level of 0.70 (range = 0.72–0.77) for all samples when two items regarding promoting other motor skills prior to powered mobility use and the temporary use of a mobility device were removed. Known-groups validity was established between all samples. Conclusions The Self-Directed Mobility Scale appears to be a valid tool for assessing views of self-directed mobility and mobility advocacy intentions in paediatric physical and occupational therapists, as well as undergraduate students. Future work should examine the internal consistency based on study sample to ensure the (> 0.70) acceptable Cronbach’s alpha level is met. Implications for rehabilitation The Self-Directed Mobility Scale is a viable measurement tool to assess views of self-directed mobility and mobility advocacy intentions of pediatric physical and occupational therapists. In combination with other measures, the Self-Directed Mobility Scale may be used in future rehabilitation research to evaluate factors associated with provision of mobility technology to children with disabilities.

Practice-Based Teaching Model for Undergraduate Public Health Students: Partnership for Exercise Is Medicine on Campus Initiative

The practice-based teaching (PBT) pedagogical approach is vital to prepare students to learn collaboratively how to solve real-world complex public health problems. Despite evidence of the new PBT approach in graduate public health courses, little is known about the development of PBT in undergraduate public health courses. The purpose of this article is to describe an undergraduate course design using PBT, offer suggestions for using the effective PBT STEPS (Securing Partnerships, Technology and Training, Engagement and Implementation, Presenting Deliverables, Sizing Up Results) framework, and explain lessons learned. The experiences are based on 4 years of successful implementation of the PBT course project, Exercise Is Medicine on Campus (EIM-OC) initiative. The college campus is a promising setting to promote EIM-OC and physical activity awareness. Undergraduate public health students in the Health Administration of Programs course partnered with the campus Wellness, Alcohol and Violence Education Program for the fall initiative. We used the comprehensive PBT STEPS framework in planning the EIM-OC. The evaluation included the number of participants at the Chancellor Walk and activity stations and student reflective writing papers. The findings suggest the effectiveness of PBT pedagogy for faculty to redesign an existing course. Students gain a deeper understanding of campus health and health topics. Faculty can guide students and empower them for working with partners to think, act, and practice like professionals during academic preparation.

Evaluating a Community-Based Breast Cancer Prevention Program for Rural Underserved Latina and Black Women.

Persistent racial and ethnic disparities and rural-urban disparities in breast cancer mortality in North Carolina require attention. The Pitt County Breast Wellness Initiative-Education (PCBWI-E) provided culturally tailored breast cancer education and navigation to age-appropriate screening services (mammography and clinical breast exams) for uninsured and underinsured Black and Latina women age 25 and older in two rural counties in North Carolina (Pitt and Edgecombe Counties). Using a lay health model, the PCBWI-E trained 23 community members and public health undergraduate students as lay breast health educators. Breast health educators educated 735 women across the 2-year program. Baseline knowledge about breast health was low at year 1 and 2 (mean knowledge score = 59%, SD = 0.21 and 57%, SD = 0.22, respectively) and was higher at follow-up post-intervention for both years 1 and 2 (mean knowledge score = 78%, SD = 0.18 and 75%, SD = 0.19, respectively) (p < 0.001). In terms of navigation, almost three-quarters (72%) of those recommended to receive a mammogram, received one. Of the population served by the PCBWI-E who were aged 40 and above, 34% had never received a mammogram. Of those women who had never received a mammogram, 68% received one through the PCBWI-E program. The PCBWI-E was successful in increasing both breast health knowledge and access to age-appropriate breast cancer screening among uninsured and underserved Latina and Black women in rural eastern North Carolina. Future efforts should support the large-scale implementation of successful evidence-based culturally appropriate models like this one in the reduction of racial, ethnic, and rural breast cancer disparities.

Co-Occurring Health Risk Behaviors and Their Association with Self-Rated Health among Female College Students

ABSTRACT Background Existing research focuses on the co-occurrence of lifestyle-related health risk behaviors among college students. Although students’ self-reported health risk behaviors have been examined, students’ self-rated health and its association with these co-occurring health risk behaviors have been overlooked. Purpose: The goals of the current study were to identify levels of co-occurrence of health risk behaviors among female college students and to test the prediction that students with multiple co-occurring health risk behaviors would report poorer self-rated health. Methods: Data from an online survey that assessed the five selected health risk behaviors and self-rated health of undergraduate students at a liberal arts university in the northeast of the USA were analyzed. Results: High prevalence rates were found on all five risk behaviors and the majority of participants reported engaging in two or more co-occurring health behaviors. The inverse association between perceived health and level of co-occurrence of health risk behaviors was consistent with what was predicted. Discussion: Students’ perceived health should be considered in the examination of health risk behaviors among college students. Translation to Health Education Practice: These findings can inform efforts to provide Health Education and prevention programming on college campuses that incorporates multiple health behaviors. A AJHE Self-Study quiz is online for this article via the SHAPE America Online Institute (SAOI) http://portal.shapeamerica.org/trn-Webinars