Work Education Research Articles

A Virtual Reality Environment Based on Infrared Thermography for the Detection of Multiple Faults in Kinematic Chains

Kinematic chains are crucial in numerous industrial settings, playing a key role in various processes. Over recent years, several methods have been developed to monitor and maintain these systems effectively. One notable method is the analysis of infrared thermal images, which serves as a non-invasive and effective approach for identifying various electromechanical issues. Additionally, Virtual Reality (VR) is a burgeoning technology that, despite its limited use in industrial contexts, offers a cost-effective and accessible solution for the training and education of industrial workers on specialized engineering subjects. Nevertheless, most virtual environments are based on numerical simulations. This paper presents the design and development of a Virtual Reality training module for the detection of fourteen electromechanical fault cases in a kinematic chain. The VR training tool developed is based on actual thermographic data derived from experiments conducted on an authentic kinematic chain. During these experiments, thermal images were captured using an low-cost infrared sensor. The thermographic images were processed by calculating the histogram and fifteen statistical indicators, which served to differentiate fault cases in the VR application. A comprehensive evaluation was carried out with a group of vocational students specialized in electrical and automation installations to determine the effectiveness and practicality of the VR training module.

Initial Professional Education for Youth and Community Workers: Exploring Academic’s Experiences

AbstractThis paper reflects on a small-scale piece of research into the experience of academics involved in the initial professional education of youth and community workers in England during the period 2015–2016, when multiple factors were affecting degree-qualifying youth and community worker education. Interviews with six academics identify the influences of funding issues, changing contexts for fieldwork settings, varied perceptions of professional youth work to ongoing pressures within higher education which inform their experience. This research draws on Bourdieu’s thinking tools of habitus and illusio as a theoretical lens to explore academics’ ongoing commitment to professional youth and community worker education. The actions and messages from the research participants offer an insight into the varied situations academics are navigating at this point in time, and resonate with a contemporary, post-pandemic context. The paper concludes with areas for further research into the ongoing development of initial professional youth and community worker education.

Interventions addressing routine childhood immunization and its behavioral and social drivers.

Despite the advances in vaccination, there are still several challenges in reaching millions of children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this review, we present an extensive summary of the various strategies used for improving routine immunization in LMICs to aid program implementers in designing vaccination interventions. Experimental and quasi-experimental impact evaluations conducted in LMICs evaluating the effectiveness of interventions in improving routine immunization of children aged 0-5 years or the intermediate outcomes were included from 3ie's review of systematic reviews. Some additional impact evaluation studies published in recent years in select LMICs with large number of unvaccinated children were also included. Studies were coded to identify interventions and the barriers in the study context using the intervention framework developed in 3ie's Evidence Gap Map and the WHO's Behavioral and Social Drivers (BeSD) of vaccination framework, respectively. Qualitative analysis of the content was conducted to analyze the intervention strategies and the vaccination barriers that they addressed. One hundred and forty-two impact evaluations were included to summarize the interventions. To address attitudinal and knowledge related barriers to vaccination and to motivate caregivers, sensitization and educational programs, media campaigns, and monetary or non-monetary incentives to caregivers, that may or may not be conditional upon certain health behaviors, have been used across contexts. To improve knowledge of vaccination, its place, time, and schedule, automated voice messages and written or pictorial messages have been used as standalone or multicomponent strategies. Interventions used to improve service quality included training and education of health workers and providing monetary or non-monetary perks to them or sending reminders to them on different aspects of provision of vaccination services. Interventions like effective planning or outreach activities, follow-up of children, tracking of children that have missed vaccinations, pay-for-performance schemes and health system strengthening have also been used to improve service access and quality. Interventions aimed at mobilizing and collaborating with the community to impact social norms, attitudes, and empower communities to make health decisions have also been widely implemented.

VARIATIONS IN THE CORRELATION OF FORCES OF THE TEACHERS' CONFLICT IN CHACO (ARGENTINA) IN THE YEARS 2019-2023

The topic we address here is the conflict between education workers in the province of Chaco (Argentina) and the governments that administered the state of Chaco in the period 2019-2023. We consider relevant its study since this conflict is continuous in the last decades and affects society as a whole. The objective of the research is to observe how the correlation of forces between the sectors in conflict will vary during the years 2019 to 2023. The questions we ask ourselves are: how did the actions of the education workers develop? what were the methodologies put into play by this sector and by the provincial government? what variations were produced in the correlation of forces? Keywords: Teachers' conflict - correlation of forces - Province of Chaco

Awareness and preparedness level of medical workers for radiation and nuclear emergency response.

Radiological science and nuclear technology have made great strides in the twenty-first century, with wide-ranging applications in various fields, including energy, medicine, and industry. However, those developments have been accompanied by the inherent risks of exposure to nuclear radiation, which is a source of concern owing to its potentially adverse effects on human health and safety and which is of particular relevance to medical personnel who may be exposed to certain cancers associated with low-dose radiation in their working environment. While medical radiation workers have seen a decrease in their occupational exposure since the 1950s thanks to improved measures for radiation protection, a concerning lack of understanding and awareness persists among medical professionals regarding these potential hazards and the required safety precautions. This issue is further compounded by insufficient capabilities in emergency response. This highlights the urgent need to strengthen radiation safety education and training to ensure the well-being of medical staff who play a critical role in radiological and nuclear emergencies. This review examines the health hazards of nuclear radiation to healthcare workers and the awareness and willingness and education of healthcare workers on radiation protection, calling for improved training programs and emergency response skills to mitigate the risks of radiation exposure in the occupational environment, providing a catalyst for future enhancement of radiation safety protocols and fostering of a culture of safety in the medical community.

Repositioning Power Relations in Indigenous Social Work Education

In this article, we present the history of social work education in Greenland, from a professional training school in 1985 to a university BA-level education in 2008 and onwards to the present day. Mainly, we discuss how the education of Greenlandic social workers continually reflects on the decolonising elements of the curriculum. The latest step in this process has been the development of a new curriculum, which came into effect in the summer of 2022 after approval from students, external boards and the academic university board. The article will discuss the repositioning of power in the new social work curriculum, aiming to gradually make education more student-centred through a higher degree of collective responsibility for learning and by engaging in problem-oriented group work with self-determined research questions at the core of Greenlandic, thematic, social worker projects.

The Need for Sport Social Workers in College Athletics

College sports place significant pressure on student-athletes and necessitate the recognition and resolution of social, emotional, and environmental needs. To provide comprehensive support, the integration of social work professionals with sport expertise in college athletic departments is proposed. By encompassing mental health support, advocacy, and the resolution of challenges pertaining to well-being and identity, the application of social work principles provides student-athletes a well-rounded college athletic experience. Education and training for sport social workers are highlighted as crucial aspects for effectively navigating the complexities of college athletics. These specialized programs equip social workers with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide effective support to student-athletes. By considering their unique needs within the college context, sport social workers can contribute to the development and success of student-athletes. This article emphasizes the significance of addressing the well-being of student-athletes in college athletics through the integration of sport social work principles. In doing so, a supportive environment can be cultivated, promoting the student-athletes’ overall development and success. A focus on inclusivity and the application of social work principles in youth sports further highlights the broader impact that social work can have in addressing social issues.

Study protocol for a pilot quasi-experimental study on oral health education for nurses and community health workers in Nigeria.

The primary health care system provides an ideal setting for the integration of oral health into general health care as well as equitable access to oral health care. However, the limited oral health knowledge of primary health care workers necessitates appropriate training before they can participate in health promotion efforts. This pilot training was designed to examine the impact of the Oral Health Education module for Nurses and Community Health Care Workers on their oral health awareness and referral practices. This study will utilize a quasi-experimental design (pre-and post with a non-equivalent control group) to assess the impact of a five-day pilot oral health education program on the knowledge and referral practices of Nurses and Community Health Workers in primary health care centers in three states in Nigeria-(Lagos, Oyo, and Kano). The training modules were developed based on the six iterative steps described in the intervention mapping framework - needs assessment, highlighting program objectives and outcomes, selection of theory and mode of intervention, designing program based on theory, designing implementation plans, and developing an evaluation plan. Only the intervention group will participate in the full educational training sessions but both groups will complete the pre-and post-intervention questionnaires. This pilot training combined the standardized training modules from the recently launched "Oral Health Training Course for Community Health Workers in Africa" and a newly developed maternal and child oral health module by our group using an evidence-based approach. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first program to examine the impact of the standardized OpenWHO modules. The success of this training will lay the foundation for developing a sustained channel for providing oral health education at the primary health care level in Nigeria, West Africa, and Africa.

Reclaiming the Public University: What Role for Higher Education Workers and Trade Unions?

Industrial action in the UK higher education sector since 2018 has shone a light on the multiple crises that impact the system. Universities had already been badly affected by the imposition of a tuition fee funding model and aggressive marketisation, but increasingly find themselves at the centre of the new culture wars. There is growing state interest in the activities of academics and interventions into actions on university campuses. In an age of colliding crises, the traditional role of the public university is increasingly being questioned. In recent years these developments have been paralleled by industrial action by the University and College Union (UCU) whose members have been in disputes with university employers over pensions, pay and working conditions. In this article I argue that this industrial action represented an important struggle over the material conditions of university workers, but it also represented a more fundamental, if often implicit, challenge to academic capitalism and the neoliberal university. However, despite an important victory in relation to pensions for workers in some universities, the outcome of the sector-wide dispute on pay and working conditions must be considered as a defeat. In the article I offer an explanation for this setback, and assess whether, and in what ways, a trade union like UCU can contribute to a radical reclaiming, and reinvention, of the public university.

Worker Education in Overcoming Burnout at Work Cleaning Service at Campus IV Ahmad Dahlan University Yogyakarta

Burnout is a condition that is often faced by workers due to several factors. The purpose of this study was to provide education about burnout in cleaning services at Campus IV of Ahmad Dahlan University Yogyakarta. The method in this study is observation by conducting a pretest post test and providing counseling material with a lecture method on burnout and using poster media as a promotional tool followed by discussion and question and answer. The material provided is related to how to overcome burnout at work, the population in this study is cleaning service at Campus IV Ahmad Dahlan University Yogyakarta with a sample of 10 cleaning service people. The results of the study found that there were workers who experienced increased knowledge or understanding of how to overcome burnout at work. However, there are some employees or workers whose scores decreased after taking the post test.

ENHANCING PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCY VALIDATION FOR EDUCATIONAL WORKERS (leveraging international experience for Ukraine)

The exchange of knowledge and experiences between nations has become imperative for sustainable development and progress today. Ukraine nowadays seeks to enhance the validation process for professional competencies of educational workers. Drawing upon the practical experiences of countries like China, various European nations, the United States, can offer invaluable insights and strategies to optimise Ukraine's educational system. The article aims to present the experience of different countries that by adopting it for education workers` professional competency validation equips Ukraine with a comprehensive toolkit to address the challenges. In particular, the validation of PR China`s (known for its emphasis on rigorous educational standards and competency validation processes), EU`s (diverse educational systems of UR countries offer a rich tapestry of approaches to competency validation), US (accreditation processes and performance-based assessments), Baltic Countries (progressive education policies and commitment to quality assurance) experience, can not only enhances the quality and innovation within Ukraine's educational system but also positions Ukrainian professionals on the global stage. The article as well pays attention not only to benefits that this or that abroad professional validation systems adoption can give Ukraine nowadays, but also makes prognoses as to its practical possibility and possible difficulties.

On some Aspects of the Work of the Faculty of Higher Education

The article is devoted to the issue of attracting teachers to carry out professional activities in higher educational institutions. Reform and optimization of higher education affects nature and conditions of employment of teachers of Russian universities. There is a decrease in the status and prestige of teaching. Legislative changes do not always contribute to increasing the prestige of the profession, as well as the desire of practitioners to transfer their experience to the younger generation in educational organizations. An important role in this is played by the requirements for persons applying for the positions of faculty of higher education. If you look at other problematic aspects of the legal regulation of the labor of education workers, taking into account the optimization of the labor process by the employer, then the status of a teacher of higher education does not become one of the goals of a future career for young professionals. It seems that a more thoughtful approach is needed to establish the requirements for the teaching staff of the university. To achieve the main task of vocational training, an effective system of replacing teaching positions should be established, taking into account the realities of our time.

Cross-sectional examination of commercial milk formula industry funding of international, regional and national healthcare professional associations: protocol

IntroductionCommercial milk formula manufacturers often emphasise their role in supporting infant and young child nutrition and breastfeeding, but their commercial goals to increase volume and profit margin of formula sales...

Barriers and facilitators to community acceptability of integrating point-of-care testing to screen for sickle cell disease in children in primary healthcare settings in rural Upper East Region of Northern Ghana.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) remains a public health problem especially in sub-Saharan Africa including Ghana. While pilot initiatives in Africa have demonstrated that neonatal screening coupled with early intervention reduces SCD-related morbidity and mortality, only 50-70% of screen-positive babies have been successfully retrieved to benefit from these interventions. Point-of-care testing (POCT) with high specificity and sensitivity for SCD screening can be integrated into existing immunization programs in Africa to improve retrieval rates. This study explored community acceptability of integrating POCT to screen for SCD in children under 5 years of age in primary healthcare facilities in Northern Ghana. This was an exploratory study using qualitative research approach where 10 focus group discussions and 20 in-depth interviews were conducted with community members and health workers between April and June 2022. The recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim after repeatedly listening to the recordings. Data was coded into themes using QSR Nvivo 12 software before thematic analysis. Most participants (70.9%) described SCD as serious and potentially life-threatening condition affecting children in the area. Of 148 community members and health workers, 141 (95.2%) said the screening exercise could facilitate diagnosis of SCD in children for early management. However, discrimination, fear of being tested positive, stigmatization, negative health worker attitude linked with issues of maintaining confidentiality were reported by participants as key factors that could affect uptake of the SCD screening exercise. Most participants suggested that intensive health education (78.3%), positive attitude of health workers (69.5%), and screening health workers not being biased (58.8%) could promote community acceptability. A large majority of participants viewed screening of SCD in children as very important. However, opinions expressed by most participants suggest that health education and professionalism of health workers in keeping patients' information confidential could improve the uptake of the exercise.

Characteristics, clinical manifestations and management of leprosy in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: A 20-year retrospective study.

Although leprosy, a neglected tropical disease, has been eliminated (<1 case per 10 000 population) in South Africa (SA) since 1926, according to the World Health Organization, new cases continue to be reported. The management of leprosy poses several challenges, including patient adherence, education and insufficient training of healthcare practitioners. To describe the biographical profile, clinical manifestations and treatment outcomes in patients with leprosy in KwaZulu-Natal Province. This retrospective study aimed to analyse the clinical data of leprosy patients in SA from 2002 to 2022. Data collected included patient demographics, comorbidities, cutaneous and neurological manifestations of leprosy, complications, treatment and adverse reactions. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data. The study analysed the clinical data of 194 leprosy patients from 2002 to 2022. The majority of patients were male and middle aged, with a disproportionate representation of black South Africans. Regarding socioeconomic status, 80% were unemployed and 40% were social grant recipients. Most cases were clustered in urban centres and diagnosed at secondary care facilities, with 15% being HIV positive. The majority of patients (90%) were classified as having multibacillary leprosy. Common symptoms included upper respiratory tract involvement, hair loss and painful nerves, with the face and limbs being most frequently affected. Cutaneous morphology predominantly included plaques and hypopigmented patches, while neurological signs included ulnar nerve tenderness, muscle weakness and sensory deficits. Debilitating neurological complications were found in one-fifth of patients. Despite initiation of multidrug therapy in most patients, a significant proportion (27.3%) did not complete the full course of treatment, and treatment reactions were noted in 33.5% of patients. These findings emphasise the urgent need for enhanced patient and healthcare worker education, particularly in primary healthcare settings, to improve adherence to treatment, advocate for prophylactic measures and prevent new cases. Achieving leprosy-free status in SA requires the collaboration of many role-players to address these challenges and improve healthcare practices.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ВЗАЄМОЗВ’ЯЗКУ ЕМОЦІЙНОГО ВИГОРАННЯ ТА ПЕРЕЖИВАННЯ ЗАЗДРОСТІ У ПРАЦІВНИКІВ ЗАКЛАДІВ ВИЩОЇ ОСВІТИ

The article presents the results of a theoretical analysis and an empirical study of the peculiarities of the relationship between emotional burnout and the phenomenon of envy among education workers. Psychophysical, emotional, intellectual, behavioral, socio-psychological symptoms of emotional burnout are distinguished. Its development is related both to external factors of the environment and the organization of activities, and to personal characteristics. Envy is a complex psychological phenomenon that is a mechanism of destructive behavior. Having a number of positive functions, envy is mostly interpreted as a negative feeling in society. Envy is determined by the lack of internal worldview and psychological balance, harmony. It occurs in dependent, insecure individuals with problematic self-esteem and a history of psychological trauma. The purpose of the study is to determine the characteristics of the relationship between emotional burnout and the phenomenon of envy among employees of higher education institutions. Scientific novelty. It was found that subjects with the “Envy-hostile” type have less pronounced symptoms of emotional burnout. They expect a more positive attitude from others, are self-confident, have self-acceptance and self-sympathy, and less self-blame. Subjects with the “Envy-distrust” type are characterized by a certain degree of hostility to their own “I”, self-rejection, emphasis on their own shortcomings, inadequate self-esteem and readiness for self-blame, reduced self-interest, expectation of a positive attitude towards them from those around them, and a decrease in self-control. Psychological characteristics of people with different types of envy are one of the factors that influence the development of emotional burnout among employees of higher education institutions, since the attitude towards oneself and the world determines the mental and emotional state of the individual. Conclusions. The results obtained in the study confirmed the proposed hypothesis, namely the assumption that employees of higher education institutions diagnosed with a high level of envy-mistrust are more prone to the development of emotional burnout than employees with pronounced envy-hostility. Key words: emotional burnout, envy, employees of educational institutions.

Determinants of perineal wound healing in 2023

Normal labour can result in a perineal laceration due to pressure from the baby's bottom during delivery or from an episiotomy operation to open the birth canal. Perineal injuries will have an impact on the muscles in the pelvic floor. In the East Jakarta region, there will be numerous cases of perineal rupture in 2022, both spontaneous and due to episiotomy. Many postpartum women suffer from perineal lacerations that take longer than seven days to heal. This study aims to identify the factors that influence perineal wound healing in the Kramat Jati District Health Center's operational setting. This study used a cross-sectional design. Based on the sample formula, the research sample of 110 postpartum women with perineal wounds was chosen to test the hypothesis with a different percentage. Purposive sampling was used as the sample method. Chi-Square test study of a correlation test. A questionnaire and a checklist were employed as the data collection tools to track the healing of the perineum wound, which was assessed during the respondent's postpartum visit. The results showed that there was a significant association between age (P-value 0.003; OR 3.354), parity (P-value 0.001; OR 4.028), mobilization (P-value 0.007), personal hygiene (P-value 0.001; OR 3.611), body mass index (BMI) (P-value 0.012; OR 2.682), type of perineal injury (P-value 0.001; OR 0.251), treatment (P-value 0.0001; OR 5.262) on perineal wound healing. Postpartum mothers are advised to practice good hygiene, non-pharmacological therapies, engage in active mobilization, and maintain a normal BMI. Perineal wounds might heal more quickly depending on BMI. Health services require education for health workers and perineal wound care recommendations for postpartum women.

Attitudes Toward Inclusion and Utilitarian-Progressive Philosophical Orientations: A Survey Study of Maltese State Primary School Educators

This article conceptualises Maltese educational philosophy according to a utilitarian-progressive dualism, with critical theory as the source of antagonism between the two positions. In this sense, education for work and economic development serves as a utilitarian or technocratic justification for the prevailing socioeconomic status quo. In contrast, education for personal and social development serves more progressive or humanistic goals of personal empowerment and sociopolitical emancipation. Given that inclusion is a relatively explicit feature of Maltese educational policy and practice, we asked how attitudes towards inclusion currently interact with the broader foregoing philosophical orientations among Maltese primary school educators. A survey of 62 educators in a large state primary school was carried out, consisting of an existing scale for measuring attitudes toward inclusion, as well as a locally contextualised bespoke scale designed to measure philosophical orientations. Factors such as role and experience, as well as initial and ongoing training were included as explanatory factors. The results suggest overall positive attitudes toward inclusion, combined with a juxtaposition of utilitarian and progressive views about education. Based on the findings, we argue that initial training is a particularly important opportunity for educators to engage more fully with philosophy of education and critical pedagogy since they are less likely to do so later in their careers in the Maltese primary state school sector.

Knowledge regarding dental fluorosis among middle school children’s of Nelamangla town, Bengaluru, India: a pre-experimental study

Knowledge regarding dental fluorosis among middle school children’s of Nelamangla town, Bengaluru, India: a pre-experimental study

Intranasal Corticosteroid Spray Usage in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis: Correctness in Technique and Compliance

Objective: To assess the correctness of technique and compliance of intranasal corticosteroid (INCS) spray usage in patients with allergic rhinitis. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Dept of ENT-Head and Neck surgery, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital from April to September 2023. Patients aged 18 or more with allergic rhinitis on INCS or had been on INCS in the past three months were assessed for INCS administration technique based on EPOS 2020 checklist and their compliance asked. Factors that could hinder the correct techniques and compliance were assessed. Results: A total of 138 patients, 71 males and 67 females, aged 18 to 55 years were included. Most of them (60/138; 43.5%) had completed secondary level education. 97.1% (134/138) had been prescribed INCS spray by ENT doctor and 89.13% (124/ 138) had received verbal instructions mostly by ENT doctor (91.1%). 7.2% (10/138) completed all the steps as per EPOS 2020 checklist whilst 25/138 (18.1%) completed five essential steps. The correctness of the INCS administration technique however did not differ with age, gender, academic qualification, prescriber or whether instructions were given or not. 119/138 (86.2%) patients reported being compliant. Conclusion. INCS spray was scarcely administered with the correct technique although the compliance was good. This study emphasizes the need for effective patient and healthcare worker education pertaining to correct INCS technique.