Validated Survey Instrument Research Articles

Training transfer in MSMEs of India: examining the role of performance coaching, HRD climate and employee agility

Purpose The relatively low emphasis on training is often attributed to concerns about the uncertain return on investment in training initiatives. However, there has been limited research conducted to understand the critical success factors for training effectiveness in these enterprises. The current research aims to address this gap by examining the role of training transfer factors in enhancing training effectiveness within micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India. Influenced by the Learning Transfer System framework proposed by Holton et al. (2007), this study aims to focus on investigating the impact of performance coaching, human resource development (HRD) climate and employee agility on training transfer in MSMEs. Design/methodology/approach Data has been collected from 411 respondents working in MSMEs of India through validated survey instruments. MSMEs have been chosen owing to the increasing contribution of the sector to the Indian gross domestic product and the lack of sufficient management research in the sector. The statistical software SPSS-AMOS has been used to create structural equational modeling for testing the hypotheses. Findings The result shows that performance coaching is the most impactful factor for training transfer, followed by HRD climate and employee agility. Practical implications The result suggests MSME practitioners activate a positive coaching environment in the organization by following the best practices in performance coaching. Further, the research suggests practitioners to realize the significance of HRD climate and employee agility. Appropriate management practices have been suggested to groom and develop HRD climate and employee agility for higher training transfer. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the research is first of its kind to study the impact of performance coaching, employee agility and HRD climate on training transfer in MSMEs.

The Effects of Electronic Health Records on Medical Error Reduction: Extension of the DeLone and McLean Information System Success Model.

Medical errors are becoming a major problem for health care providers and those who design health policies. These errors cause patients' illnesses to worsen over time and can make recovery impossible. For the benefit of patients and the welfare of health care providers, a decrease in these errors is required to maintain safe, high-quality patient care. This study aimed to improve the ability of health care professionals to diagnose diseases and reduce medical errors. Data collection was performed at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital using convenience sampling. In total, 300 health care professionals were given a self-administered questionnaire, including doctors, dentists, pharmacists, physiologists, and nurses. To test the study hypotheses, multiple linear regression was used to evaluate empirical data. In the sample of 300 health care professionals, no significant correlation was found between medical error reduction (MER) and knowledge quality (KQ) (β=.043, P=.48). A nonsignificant negative relationship existed between MER and information quality (IQ) (β=-.080, P=.19). However, a significant positive relationship was observed between MER and electronic health records (EHR; β=.125, 95% CI 0.005-0.245, P=.042). Increasing patient access to medical records for health care professionals may significantly improve patient health and well-being. The effectiveness of health care organizations' operations can also be increased through better health information systems. To lower medical errors and enhance patient outcomes, policy makers should provide financing and support for EHR adoption as a top priority. Health care administrators should also concentrate on providing staff with the training they need to operate these systems efficiently. Empirical surveys in other public and private hospitals can be used to further test the validated survey instrument.

일개 대학 간호대학생의 감사성향, 자기성찰 및 통찰력이 대인관계유능성에 미치는 영향

Objectives The study aims to identify the impact of nursing students' gratitude disposition, self-reflection, and insight on their interpersonal competence. Methods This descriptive survey study was conducted among students enrolled in a nursing college. Data were collected over a two-week period starting from September 4, 2023. Students who reviewed the study information and expressed willingness to participate were included in the sample. An online survey was administered to assess the general characteristics of the nursing students, their gratitude disposition, self-reflection and insight, and interpersonal competence. Validated survey instruments were used for each variable. A total of 115 responses were analyzed using hierarchical regression analysis. Results Both gratitude disposition (β= 0.330, p<.001) and self-reflection and insight (β= 0.253, p<.002) were found to have a significant impact on interpersonal competence. The F-value of the multiple regression analysis was 23.740 (p<.001), and the R² was 0.569, indicating that the model explained approximately 56.9% of the variance in the dependent variable. This suggests that these factors are important for understanding nursing students' interpersonal competence. Potential confounding variables were controlled for to ensure the validity of the results. Conclusions This study confirms that nursing students' gratitude disposition, self-reflection, and insight significantly influence their interpersonal competence. To enhance interpersonal competence among nursing students, efforts should be made to improve their gratitude disposition and provide various opportunities for self-reflection through relevant programs. Future research should explore specific types of interventions and their effectiveness in enhancing these traits among nursing students.

Effects of Teachers’ Technology Leadership on Postgraduate Preservice Teachers’ Application of TPACK: Perspective of Path-Goal Theory of Leadership

A tremendous amount of technology (e.g., online learning platforms, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and robots) has been utilized to create rich interactive activities to upgrade preservice teachers’ knowledge and skills. However, there is a challenge to transform teacher preparation programs into a fully realized technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) application environment. Teachers’ technology leadership (TTL) should be considered to empower preservice teachers to apply TPACK. Since there was no empirical evidence concerning the impact of technology leadership on student outcomes, this study investigated the relationship between TTL and postgraduate preservice teachers’ application of TPACK by collecting quantitative data in Chinese normal university. Factor analyses were first conducted; and results indicated that the questionnaire combined the ISTE-E standards and TPACK framework was a reliable and valid survey instrument. The descriptive statistics results showed that TTL (professional growth and leadership, digital citizenship, technology collaboration, and technology-empowered learning) was highly perceived, and postgraduate preservice teachers’ TPACK components were at medium levels. Structural equation modeling test results revealed that TTL positively and significantly influenced all dimensions of postgraduate preservice teachers’ TPACK. Finally, limitations of the study and suggestions for future research are provided along with theoretical and practical implications.

Perceptions, Expectations, Reality, and Public Confidence Regarding the Role of Pharmacists in Pharmacy Services in Bandung

Background: The shifting from the old paradigm to the new paradigm with the philosophy of pharmaceutical care demands pharmacists to enhance the quality of pharmaceutical services. However, this role has not been optimally fulfilled, especially in the community setting.Objectives: This study aimed to identify the perceptions and expectations, the gap between expectations and reality, and public confidence as well as to analyze the relationship between sociodemographic factors and the perceptions, expectations, and public confidence in Bandung City regarding the role of pharmacists in pharmaceutical services.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated survey instrument with 440 respondents in Bandung, West Java, from March to April 2023. The survey data were analyzed descriptively and through inferential statistics.Results: The analysis showed that 58.41% of the community had a positive perception, 56.82% had high expectations, the average gap between expectations and reality was 14.04%, and more than 51.36% had a high level of public confidence in pharmacists. Sociodemographic factors influencing perceptions were age and the highest level of education (p = 0.005; p = 0.003), factors influencing public confidence were age, the highest level of education, residence address according to ID card (KTP), and occupation (p < 0.001; p = 0.034; p = 0.001; p = 0.001), and the factor influencing expectations was the residence address according to ID card (KTP) (p = 0.043). A correlation was found between the dimensions of perceptions, expectations, and public confidence.Conclusion: Most participants held a positive perception, had high expectations, and shown high confidence in the pharmacist's position, despite the existence of a disparity between expectations and the actual provision of pharmacy services. The elements of perception, expectations, and confidence are interrelated.

Single-Sided Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow as an Adjunct Objective Measure in Functional Septorhinoplasty.

Nasal obstruction can negatively impact patient quality of life, which can be alleviated by functional nasal surgery. Quantification of improvement is most commonly evaluated with the use of validated survey instruments but lacks widely utilized objective measures. Herein, we evaluate the utility of single-sided peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) as an objective outcome measure in the evaluation and management of nasal obstruction. Adults presenting with nasal obstruction who were recommended septorhinoplasty were included in the study. Single-sided and bilateral PNIF measures, nasal obstruction symptom evaluation (NOSE) scores, surgeon-rated percent nasal obstruction, and nasal obstruction visual analog scale (VAS) scores were recorded preoperatively with Spearman's correlation coefficients (ρ) calculated. Correlation coefficients were also calculated between the change in the above variables from the pre- to postoperative state. One Hundred Fifteen patients were enrolled in the study and underwent septorhinoplasty. Significant correlations between single-sided PNIF and the associated VAS scores of the same laterality were found for the worse (ρ = -0.366; p < 0.001) and better (ρ = -0.313; p < 0.001) breathing sides. Correlations between postoperative improvement in single-sided PNIF and improvement in VAS scores were also found (ρ = -0.330; p = 0.007, ρ = -0.354; p = 0.004). No correlation between NOSE scores and single-sided PNIF was found except in the subgroup of patients presenting with bilateral asymmetric nasal obstruction, in who NOSE scores correlated with worse side PNIF (ρ = -0.369; p = 0.038). Single-sided PNIF has a better correlation to patients' symptoms as rated by VAS score than bilateral PNIF and may be a useful adjunct objective measure in the evaluation and quantification of improvement in patients undergoing septorhinoplasty. Level III Laryngoscope, 2024.

Is use of ChatGPT cheating? Students of health professions perceptions

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore student perceptions of generative AI use and cheating in health professions education. The authors sought to understand how students believe generative AI is acceptable to use in coursework. Materials and methods Five faculty members surveyed students across health professions graduate programs using an updated, validated survey instrument. Students anonymously completed the survey online, which took 10–20 min. Data were then tabulated and reported in aggregate form. Results Nearly 400 students from twelve academic programs including health and rehabilitation science, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, speech-language pathology, health administration and health informatics, undergraduate healthcare studies, nurse anesthesiology, and cardiovascular perfusion. The majority of students identify the threat of generative AI to graded assignments such as tests and papers, but many believe it is acceptable to use these tools to learn and study outside of graded assignments. Conclusions Generative AI tools provide new options for students to study and learn. Graduate students in the health professions are currently using generative AI applications but are not universally aware or in agreement of how its use threatens academic integrity. Faculty should provide specific guidance on how generative AI applications may be used.

Utilization of Telemedicine to Supervise Medical Students in the Post-Acute/Long-Term Care Setting

ObjectivesTelemedicine has become a widely accepted alternative to face-to-face patient encounters. Although there have been several peer-reviewed journal articles on incorporating telemedicine into the medical school curriculum, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, assessments of the effectiveness of remote supervision of medical students have not been reported. This prospective cohort study of student subjects using observational survey data evaluated the efficacy of telemedicine as an educational resource by comparing learning outcomes between osteopathic medical students receiving direct (physically present) supervision with a group who received remote (telemedicine) supervision by clinical faculty within a post-acute/long-term care (PA/LTC) setting. Learning outcomes in the domains of patient rapport, attitudes, knowledge, and behavior were measured using standardized survey instruments. DesignProspective cohort study of student subjects using observational survey data. Setting and ParticipantsA total of 167 fourth-year osteopathic medical students at a teaching nursing home (TNH). MethodsA total of 167 fourth-year osteopathic medical students (OMS-4s) were randomly assigned face-to-face PA/LTC patient encounters at the TNH. The encounters were follow-up visits to residents of the TNH that were supervised by faculty geriatricians. Half were accompanied by the physician and the other half were supervised by the physician through telemedicine. Evaluation using validated survey instruments measured patient rapport, verbal communication, and physical examination skills as well as attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors of the student/subjects. ResultsA nonparametric statistical analysis of 4 dependent variables measuring patient rapport, attitudes, knowledge and behavior showed no significant difference between the 2 teaching modalities. Conclusions and ImplicationsThe results of this prospective cohort study indicate that telemedicine supervision is comparable (noninferior) to direct supervision of medical student trainees in a PA/LTC setting.

Physician Reluctance to Intervene in Addiction

The overdose epidemic continues in the US, with 107 941 overdose deaths in 2022 and countless lives affected by the addiction crisis. Although widespread efforts to train and support physicians to implement medications and other evidence-based substance use disorder interventions have been ongoing, adoption of these evidence-based practices (EBPs) by physicians remains low. To describe physician-reported reasons for reluctance to address substance use and addiction in their clinical practices using screening, treatment, harm reduction, or recovery support interventions. A literature search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, medRxiv, and SSRN Medical Research Network was conducted and returned articles published from January 1, 1960, through October 5, 2021. Publications that included physicians, discussed substance use interventions, and presented data on reasons for reluctance to intervene in addiction were included. Two reviewers (L.N., M.C., L.F., J.P., C.S., and S.W.) independently reviewed each publication; a third reviewer resolved discordant votes (M.C. and W.C.). This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines and the theoretical domains framework was used to systematically extract reluctance reasons. The primary outcome was reasons for physician reluctance to address substance use disorder. The association of reasons for reluctance with practice setting and drug type was also measured. Reasons and other variables were determined according to predefined criteria. A total of 183 of 9308 returned studies reporting data collected from 66 732 physicians were included. Most studies reported survey data. Alcohol, nicotine, and opioids were the most often studied substances; screening and treatment were the most often studied interventions. The most common reluctance reasons were lack of institutional support (173 of 213 articles [81.2%]), knowledge (174 of 242 articles [71.9%]), skill (170 of 230 articles [73.9%]), and cognitive capacity (136 of 185 articles [73.5%]). Reimbursement concerns were also noted. Bivariate analysis revealed associations between these reasons and physician specialty, intervention type, and drug. In this systematic review of reasons for physician reluctance to intervene in addiction, the most common reasons were lack of institutional support, knowledge, skill, and cognitive capacity. Targeting these reasons with education and training, policy development, and program implementation may improve adoption by physicians of EBPs for substance use and addiction care. Future studies of physician-reported reasons for reluctance to adopt EBPs may be improved through use of a theoretical framework and improved adherence to and reporting of survey development best practices; development of a validated survey instrument may further improve study results.

The Impact of Physical Activity Enjoyment, Exercise Self-Efficacy, Recording Physical Activity, and Exercise Goal Setting on Physical Activity Levels of College Students

Physical inactivity has been established to be problematic for college students both short- and long-term. Their participation in physical activity (PA) is influenced by many factors which will be explored in this study. The purpose of the study was to examine the interrelationships of PA enjoyment, exercise goal setting, exercise self-efficacy, and recording PA behaviors and the impact on PA. One thousand four hundred and seventy-six students at a public university in the United States responded to a questionnaire consisting of validated survey instruments regarding PA levels and exercise behaviors between 2014 and 2018. Exercise self-efficacy, PA enjoyment and recording PA were direct positive predictors of PA. Our findings reinforce the positive influence between PA enjoyment, exercise self-efficacy, and establishing exercise goals with increased PA. Particularly, exercise goal setting and PA enjoyment not only directly impact PA but also influence other model variables, underscoring their significance in enhancing PA among college students.

Surgeon and Surgical Trainee Experiences After Adverse Patient Events

Adverse patient events are inevitable in surgical practice. To characterize the impact of adverse patient events on surgeons and trainees, identify coping mechanisms, and assess whether current forms of support are sufficient. In this mixed-methods study, a validated survey instrument was adapted and distributed to surgical trainees from 7 programs, and qualitative interviews were conducted with faculty from 4 surgical departments in an urban academic health system. The personal impact of adverse patient events, current coping mechanisms, and desired forms of support. Of 216 invited trainees, 93 (43.1%) completed the survey (49 [52.7%] male; 60 [64.5%] in third postgraduate year or higher; 23 [24.7%] Asian or Pacific Islander, 6 [6.5%] Black, 51 [54.8%] White, and 8 [8.6%] other race; 13 [14.0%] Hispanic or Latinx ethnicity). Twenty-three of 29 (79.3%) invited faculty completed interviews (13 [56.5%] male; median [IQR] years in practice, 11.0 [7.5-20.0]). Of the trainees, 77 (82.8%) endorsed involvement in at least 1 recent adverse event. Most reported embarrassment (67 of 79 trainees [84.8%]), rumination (64 of 78 trainees [82.1%]), and fear of attempting future procedures (51 of 78 trainees [65.4%]); 28 of 78 trainees (35.9%) had considered quitting. Female trainees and trainees who identified as having a race and/or ethnicity other than non-Hispanic White consistently reported more negative consequences compared with male and White trainees. The most desired form of support was the opportunity to discuss the incident with an attending physician (76 of 78 respondents [97.4%]). Similarly, faculty described feelings of guilt and shame, loss of confidence, and distraction after adverse events. Most described the utility of confiding in peers and senior colleagues, although some expressed unwillingness to reach out. Several suggested designating a departmental point person for event debriefing. In this mixed-methods study of the personal impact of adverse events on surgeons and trainees, these events were nearly universally experienced and caused significant distress. Providing formal support mechanisms for both surgical trainees and faculty may decrease stigma and restore confidence, particularly for underrepresented groups.

Development of a questionnaire for assessing the impact of children’s food marketing exposure on diet-related outcomes

IntroductionThe Government of Thailand has drafted legislation to protect children from the harmful impact of unhealthy food (including beverages) marketing. Local evidence on Thai children’s exposure to, and the impact...

A survey of attitudes, behaviors and experiences of Nigerian investors in cryptocurrencies

Purpose Given the many activities of Nigerian investors in the crypto ecosystem, this paper investigates the level of their awareness, attitudes, risk tolerance, experience, reasons for investing and level of financial literacy.Design/methodology/approach The research approach is based on a self-administered questionnaire. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) permitted the use of its reliable and validated survey instrument, administered in Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam in 2019. The results are tabulated and analyzed.Findings The key results include the participation of respondents, who are generally young males, not fully financially literate but risk-averse. Many held the false view that investing in global markets is a higher risk than in national markets. Their reasons for investing in crypto include the fear of missing out on good opportunities and the desire to have fun. The results also revealed that social media, conversations with non-experts and online articles are among the most used investment information sources, highlighting the role of digital platforms and informal discussions in shaping perceptions and knowledge about cryptocurrencies. Investments in cryptos are financed through savings, regular monthly budgets or borrowed from friends or family. As for specific attitudes to risk, the results suggest that for most respondents, preserving their invested capital is of paramount importance.Originality/value The importance of this research also resides in the possibility of comparing the crypto ecosystem in Asia with Nigeria because the same OECD data instrument is employed in data collection. Moreover, this study is the most comprehensive research about Nigerian investors in cryptocurrencies.

Abstract PO1-10-07: A Video Intervention to Improve Patient Understanding of Tumor Genomic Testing in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer: Primary Results of a Prospective Intervention Trial

Abstract Background: Tumor genomic testing (TGT) has become standard-of-care for all patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) guidelines for patient education prior to TGT are not widely followed. We have previously demonstrated disparities in general genomic knowledge across race and income. The purpose of this study was to develop a concise (3-4 minute) video for patient education prior to TGT and evaluate the video’s impact in a prospective interventional trial. We report the results of the primary endpoint of the MBC cohort (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05215769). Methods: We previously published our internal quality improvement cycle involving provider surveys, patient focus groups, and adult learning theory-based content development for TGT educational videos. An animated video incorporating culturally diverse images available in English and Spanish was created to be applicable to any cancer type, with MBC-specific content included for patients with breast cancer. A total of 150 participants were enrolled at a single tertiary academic institution, of whom 53 were diagnosed with MBC. Participants completed validated survey instruments immediately prior to video viewing (T1), immediately post-viewing (T2) and 60-90 days later, after TGT results were documented (T3). Instruments included: 1) 10-question objective genomic knowledge/understanding (GKU); 2) 10-question video message-specific knowledge/recall (VMSK); 3) 11-question Trust in Physician/Provider (TIPP); 4) attitudes regarding TGT. The primary objective was to assess change in VMSK between T1 and T2 and a cohort of 50 participants provided 90% power to detect an effect size of 0.47 from pre- to post-video using two-sided Wilcoxon signed-rank test with alpha of 0.05. Associations of VMSK, GKU, and TIPP with categorical demographic variables were explored with Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: From April 2022 to May2023, a total of 150 participants were enrolled (MBC n=53, lung cancer n=38, metastatic cancer of any type n=59). The MBC cohort analysis is presented. The MBC cohort had a median age of 59; all were female; majority Caucasian (48/53, 91%); most were married/in domestic partnership (35/53, 66%). For the primary endpoint, there was a significant increase in video message-specific knowledge (Wilcoxon signed rank p&amp;lt; 0.0001) but there was no significant change in general genomic knowledge (p=0.89) or trust in provider (p=0.59). Improvement of video message-specific knowledge was consistent across demographic groups, including age, income, and education. Of the 10-questions in the VMSK survey, results for four questions significantly improved after viewing the video, including questions informing the likelihood of TGT impact on treatment decision, incidental germline findings, and cost of testing (Table 1). Baseline genomic knowledge was significantly associated with income (nominal p=0.028), with higher income associated with higher baseline knowledge. Conclusions: A concise, 3-4 minute, broadly applicable video incorporating culturally diverse images administered prior to TGT significantly improved video message-specific knowledge across all demographic groups. Ongoing work includes analysis of additional cohorts (lung, any type) and evaluation in community oncology setting with a goal to provide a paradigm to efficiently educate and empower patients while addressing ASCO/ACMG guidelines within the flow of clinical practice. Table 1. Response to video message-specific questions before versus after tumor genomic testing educational video intervention Citation Format: Daniel Stover, Deloris Veney, Lai Wei, Amanda Toland, Carolyn Presley, Tasleem Padamsee, Clara Lee, Heather Hampel, William Irvin, Jawad Francis, Michael Bishop, Shelly Hovick, Leigha Senter. A Video Intervention to Improve Patient Understanding of Tumor Genomic Testing in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer: Primary Results of a Prospective Intervention Trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO1-10-07.

A Multimodal Ayurveda and Mind-Body Therapeutic Intervention for Chronic Symptoms Attributed to a Postinfectious Syndrome: A Pilot Study.

Objective: Evaluate feasibility and impact of a multimodal integrative therapeutic intervention in patients presenting with chronic symptoms attributed to a postinfectious syndrome. Design: This was a prospective longitudinal single-center pilot study conducted from January 2019 to December 2020. Setting/Location: University of Maryland Lyme Program, Baltimore Maryland. Subjects: Persons presenting for Lyme evaluation for symptoms attributed to Lyme disease. Interventions: Participants attended two 1-h individual instructional sessions consisting of Ayurveda-based dietary intervention and breath-coordinated mind-body practice to be used for home practice. Outcome measures: Standard measures of impact were obtained at baseline, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months using the following validated survey instruments: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), PROMIS Global Health v1.2 (GH), and PROMIS 29 v2.0 survey. Results: From 216 patients presenting for Lyme evaluation, 19 participants enrolled with 84% completing the study (N = 16). Baseline PROMIS GH scores consisting of general Physical Health (GPH) and general Mental Health (GMH) scores were lower in the study population than in the general U.S. population. PROMIS 29 scores were higher for fatigue, anxiety, and pain than those in the general U.S. population. Over 12-month period, improvement in both the GPH and GMH was 6.09 (confidence interval [95% CI] = 2.71-9.46; p < 0.001) and 4.65 (95% CI = 1.50-7.80; p = 0.004), respectively. PROMIS 29 scores showed the greatest improvement in fatigue at -7.91 (95% CI = -12.34 to -3.48; p < 0.001), pain interference -5.08 (95% CI = -9.20 to -0.96; p = 0.016), and ability to participate in social roles and activities 7.48 (95% CI = 3.21-11.75; p = 0.001) and least with depression -1.82 (95% CI = -4.74 to 1.10; p = 0.223). Employment status had significant effects on almost all outcome scores. Postinfectious state was associated with improvement in anxiety and PSS scores. Conclusions: A multimodal Ayurvedic and breath-coordinated mind-body therapeutic intervention is feasible and a potential nonpharmacologic therapeutic option for persons presenting with pain, stress, fatigue, physical dysfunction, and sleep disturbance attributed to a postinfectious syndrome. Further research is needed to determine efficacy in this population and in other groups with similar symptom complexes due to postinfectious syndromes.

Introducing Mindfulness Practices to the Healer’s Art Course for Medical Students: A Feasibility Study

Introduction: Burnout is common among medical students in the United States and can be debilitating. Mindfulness practices can reduce stress levels and burnout. Integrating mindfulness practices into pre-existing medical courses such as the Healer&amp;rsquo;s Art can potentially reduce burnout. Methods: We evaluated the impact of introducing meditation and yoga into the Healer&amp;rsquo;s Art course at a midwestern medical school. Half of the students were randomized into a meditation class (n=11) and the other half were randomized into a yoga class (n=12). Students were given pre- and post- session surveys to assess measures of mindfulness, burnout, and energy levels, adapted from validated survey instruments. Paired two-sample t tests were used to assess the relationship between each intervention and each pre-specified outcome. Results: Twenty-three medical students participated in a one-time yoga or meditation session. The yoga intervention resulted in a statistically significant increase in energy and breath awareness outcomes. The meditation intervention resulted in a significant increase in mindfulness. Both yoga and meditation were found to decrease burnout among participants in the immediate aftermath. Ninety-six percent of participants (22 of 23) expressed that mindfulness practices should be incorporated into future the Healer&amp;rsquo;s Art courses, with a mean recommendation score of 4.5 out of 5. Conclusion: Yoga and meditation classes might reduce medical student burnout. Randomized control trials are needed to assess longevity and generalizability of findings.

Clinical duties and compensation for U.S. emergency medicine fellows at academic centers: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey.

Fellowship training is increasingly popular among residency graduates and critical to the advancement of academic emergency medicine (EM). Little is known about the clinical hours worked and financial compensation received by fellows during training. We sought to describe the clinical duties and financial compensation of EM fellows at U.S. academic centers. This cross-sectional study surveyed U.S. academic EM department administrators who were members of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine's Academy of Administrators in Academic Emergency Medicine (AAAEM) regarding their fellowship programs and fellows. We electronically distributed the validated survey instrument to 73 member sites between October 2022 and January 2023. Survey domains included fellow and fellowship demographics, base and total annual clinical hours, and base and total annual compensation. We calculated descriptive statistics and compared fellows by accreditation (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education [ACGME] or non-ACGME) using chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum testing. We conducted a secondary analysis of base and total salary by gender and accreditation using Wilcoxon rank-sum testing. We received 38 institutional responses (response rate 52%), which represented 217 individual fellows. Nearly three-fourths (n = 158, 72.8%) of fellows enrolled in non-ACGME fellowships, worked 33% more base hours annually than ACGME fellows (median 571 h vs. 768 h, p < 0.001), and received base compensation 20% higher than ACGME fellows ($88,540 vs. $70,777, p < 0.001). Accounting for additional compensation, the median total annual compensation for non-ACGME fellows remained 11% higher than ACGME fellows ($105,000 vs. $93,853, p = 0.004). We observed no significant differences salary when stratified by gender. Most EM fellows at U.S. academic institutions enrolled in non-ACGME fellowships with significantly higher base hours and financial compensation than ACGME fellowships. These results represent the first description of the clinical hours and financial compensation of academic EM fellows and should be considered in ongoing benchmarking efforts by AAAEM.

The Impact of a Community of Practice Scholarship Program on Students’ Computing Identity

While computing programs in the U.S. are experiencing growth in enrollment trends, they are still grappling with matters related to retention and persistence of computing undergraduates. One construct identified by scholars as having an impact on persistence in computing is computing identity, which is shaped by constructs such as recognition, performance/competence beliefs, sense of belonging, and interest. Likewise, participation in what scholars call communities of practice (CoPs) can aid in the development of their computing identity. To help foster computing identity development, an initiative was designed at three large public universities named Flit-Path (Florida IT Pathways to Success). Flit-Path was established using the principles inherent to communities of practice with the goal of recruiting and retaining computing students. The Flit-Path program leveraged curricular and co-curricular support to engage academically talented students with financial need in computing disciplines (e.g., computer engineering, computer science, and information technology) and provided financial assistance via scholarships. The guiding research question for this study was, What is the impact of a computing community of practice (the Flit-Path program) on students’ computing identity, specifically the constructs of recognition, performance/competence, sense of belonging, and interest? In order to address this question, a validated survey instrument was used to compare 64 computing students who enrolled in the Flit-Path program with students from the same universities with matched years in college, computing GPA, race/ethnicity, gender, home/environment support, and work hours outside the home. For comparing the two groups, the research team used multivariate matching methods in R. The results of the study revealed that students in the Flit-Path program demonstrated substantially higher computing identities. Students who participated in the Flit-Path program experienced higher recognition, performance/competence, and sense of belonging in the computing field than their non-Flit-Path counterparts. There was also a borderline positive effect for interest. Together, the results indicate that well-designed CoP interventions in computing programs can have a significant effect on students’ identification with computing and ultimately their persistence.

Gender-Affirming Mastectomy: Psychosocial and Surgical Outcomes in Transgender Adults.

Limited literature exists examining the effects of gender-affirming mastectomy on transmasculine and nonbinary patients that is prospective and uses validated survey instruments. The psychosocial functioning of transmasculine and nonbinary patients was compared between patients who underwent gender-affirming mastectomy and those who had not yet undergone surgery. Participants were enrolled in a single-site, combined study of surgical and psychosocial outcomes, including a cross-sectional cohort of preoperative and postoperative patients, as well as separate prospective cohort. Participants completed the BREAST-Q psychosocial and sexual well-being modules, the BODY-Q satisfaction with chest and nipples modules, the Body Image Quality of Life Inventory, the Transgender Congruence Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale before and after surgery. We also examined how patient demographic factors correlated with postoperative surgical and psychosocial outcomes. A total of 111 transmasculine and nonbinary patients 18 to 63 years of age (mean ± SD 26.5 ± 8) underwent mastectomy and were included in the study. All were included in the cross-sectional cohort, and 20 were enrolled in the prospective cohort. More than one-third (34.2%) of patients were nonbinary. After surgery, psychosocial and sexual well-being, satisfaction, body image-related quality of life, and gender congruence were increased (p < 0.001) in both cohorts, and depression (p < 0.009 cross-sectional), and anxiety (p < 0.001 cross-sectional) were decreased. The most common adverse event was hypertrophic scarring, which occurred in 41 (36.9%) participants. In this study of transmasculine and nonbinary adults, gender-affirming mastectomy was followed by substantial improvements in psychosocial functioning.

Severity, impact on quality of life and mental health burden of pruritus in prurigo nodularis: a cross-sectional study of a diverse patient cohort.

We performed a cross-sectional study using validated survey instruments, finding severe pruritus, reduced quality of life (QoL) and a significant mental health burden in a diverse cohort of patients with prurigo nodularis (PN) from the USA. Itch severity and QoL scores were comparable to those found in European populations, aside from ItchyQoL scores (higher scores in this US cohort). Black patients reported higher itch intensity scores than White patients. More than 37% of patients met the cutoff for severe depression, but only 26% had a clinical diagnosis of depression. Dermatologists should be aware that PN extends beyond severe pruritus, consider screening for psychiatric comorbidities and address other concerns that affect QoL as needed.