Workplace Preparedness Research Articles

Effect of Using Information Communication Technologies in Teacher Education on Prospective Teachers Learning

The study entitled, “Effect of Using Information Communication Technologies in Teacher Education on Prospective Teachers Learning”. Major research objective was to analyze the effect of ICTs on prospective teachers learning. Sample of the study consisted of 300 prospective Teachers and 20 teacher educators of south Punjab universities. Five public sector universities including the IUB Bahawalpur, GSCWU Bahawalpur, UE Multan, NUML Multan Campus, and BZU Multan. The researcher collected data from students of M.Ed. last semester. The study was survey and descriptive in nature. The quantitative as well as qualitative (QUAN-qual) approach was adopted. The questionnaire was used for data collection from prospective teachers and interview from teacher educators. The descriptive and inferential statistics were applied. The study concluded that prospective teachers understand better when teacher integration ICTs in their class lecture and they understand better when identify and retrieve information from a range of sources of ICTs, fell pleasure and accelerate learning through ICTs. They acquire communication skills for workplace preparedness. There was insignificance difference between opinion of male and female teacher. Likewise, majority of teacher educators agreed that prospective teachers gain technological knowledge, through ICTs. They may improve keen interest and research habits as ICTs promote motivation, practice, affective learning.

Promoting 21st Century Workplace Preparedness of Engineering Students: Teachers’ and Students’ Perceptions

The conspicuous transition in the employment sector has entailed employers to expect employees with pragmatic, autonomous, and dynamic skill sets. However, the engineers in India have been under-trained with the requisite skill set to exhibit constructive outcomes in the present competitive world. This paper expounds on the predominance of Life and Career skills in capacity building of engineering students with adequate skills to sustain the transforming 21st-century workplace demands. On this account, the paper examines the perceptions of students and teachers on integrating Life and Career skills in the English syllabus of the Engineering curriculum for the workplace preparedness of the students. An online survey was conducted between July and August 2019 to obtain the perceptions of 1048 students of engineering and 34 teachers of English from the Engineering Institutes affiliated with Pondicherry University. The findings have exhibited the assertion on the efficacy of Life and Career skills in empowering engineering students with flexibility, self-direction, cross-cultural, productivity, etc., skills. The results imply the desideratum of these skills set in the engineering curriculum for Industry-ready students to meet the demands of the 21st-century workplace.

Designing the 'new normal': Key insights from the pandemic for transforming online learning going forward

The deep disruption to education caused by the move to online learning during COVID-19 was unprecedented. While most educational stakeholders adapt to the transition back to a “new normal”, it seems an obvious time for constructivist reflection on the lessons learned. The aim of this longitudinal inquiry was to examine the experiences of higher education learners in Chile during the pandemic for potential insights to be gained. The focus was on students in multi-disciplinarian fields and the changes to their perspectives, practices, and identities. Working within the qualitative paradigm, data was gathered using interviews (<i>n=22</i>), surveys (<i>n=1,054</i>, n=1,137, n=205) and field notes. Learners’ experiences were mapped against contemporary e-learning theory and 21<sup>st</sup> century learner identity goals. Through this lens, pedagogical practices, course designs, and uses of technology reflected in online spaces were found to influence learners and their learning in complex ways. Two key themes emerged in the analysis: (1) exposure to conventional pedagogy, information transfer and assessment-driven designs and technology challenges online, left students discouraged with their learning progress and disparaging of their future workplace preparedness and (2) students who experienced learner-centered practices online, supported by contemporary learning theory and community-building course designs and technologies, underwent transformative changes to their learning and identities and feeling confidently qualified for their post study careers. In view of the increasing role e-learning will play in this century, we believe further empirical research of this kind into a myriad of global, digital learning contexts, could help transform online learning and learners in our new post pandemic reality.

Factors Associated with Work Performance and Mental Health of Healthcare Workers During Pandemics In Asia : a Systematic Review

COVID-19 is highly contagious and the transmission dynamics are associated with intercontinental spread. The pandemic’s short-term and long-term impact on healthcare worker’s mental health and well-being remains largely unknown. This systematic review used preferred reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The articles were searched from PubMed, the reviewers had screened 729 abstracts, 372 full-text publications, and ultimately included 11 systematic reviews. The review found ten factors associated with the work performance and mental health of healthcare workers in Asia, including experiencing feelings of anxiety, having inadequate support, depression, experiencing occupational stress, loneliness, lack of workplace preparedness, financial concerns associated with changes in income and daily living, fear of transmission, burnout/fatigue and sleep disturbance. This systematic review can be used as input for governments and employers as a reference to develop strategies to support healthcare workers’ mental health, well-being and work productivity.

Canadian Hospital Pharmacists' Perceptions of Workplace Preparedness and Personal Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Little is known about hospital pharmacists' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, as studies to date have focused on community pharmacy practices. To determine hospital pharmacists' perceptions of their workplace preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic and to measure their mental well-being with the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS). Pharmacists working in Canadian hospital inpatient settings during the COVID-19 pandemic were invited to participate in a 2-part online survey. Part A was a 46-item survey containing statements related to directions and support from leadership, personal protective equipment practices, work environment, and emotions. Part B assessed respondents' mental well-being using the validated 14-item WEMWBS. Responses to both parts of the survey were based on Likert scales. The survey was open from July to September 2020. Descriptive analyses were applied. A total of 432 hospital pharmacists consented to participate in the study. Most respondents were women (337/432, 78%), and most were 25 to 44 years old (293/432, 68%). Most respondents were confident that their workplace and pharmacy department were effectively managing patient demand (314/389, 81%) and the pandemic more generally (263/394, 67%). They also felt that their workplace teams were working well together (314/386, 81%). Interestingly, 22% (86/391) of the respondents did not agree that they had received training for COVID-19 infection prevention and control practices. The mean WEMWBS score was 48.9 (standard deviation 8.6), which indicated average mental well-being. After the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, respondents perceived their hospitals and departments as being able to manage the pandemic and reported average mental well-being. Ensuring that all hospital pharmacists receive training for effective COVID-19 infection prevention and control practices is crucial. How their perceptions and well-being have changed since the time of the survey is unknown.

Using the COVID-19 Job Exposure Matrix for Essential Workplace Preparedness.

Using the COVID-19 Job Exposure Matrix for Essential Workplace Preparedness.

Workplace preparedness for an ageing workforce: a case study

PurposeFor many nations, their workforces are ageing. The purpose of this paper is to explore the concerns and attitudes of employers to employing older workers and what information they require.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey of workplaces was undertaken in the Fife region of Scotland, which in economic and demographic terms is representative of wider Scotland and other nations in Northern Europe. Descriptive analysis was undertaken to give insight into concerns and actions taken regarding ageing workforces.FindingsMost workplaces perceive more advantages to employing older workers than challenges. Many have adapted training and work practices, but many have not. The majority surveyed believe that existing policies and strategies are sufficient. This points to the need for national and local government and employer associations to become more active to persuade workplaces to better manage future workplaces.Research limitations/implicationsGeneralisability is problematic and the small sample restricted the scope of statistical analysis.Practical implicationsThe authors were unable to judge the severity of how an ageing workforce impacts on workplace performance, as employers found it difficult to conceptualise and identify the impact of ageing from market and economic pressures.Social implicationsResulting from population ageing the workforce of many societies are becoming older, this will impact on workplace relations and the social identity of those over the age of 50 years.Originality/valueLittle research has been undertaken to assess workplaces awareness of, and how to adapt to, an ageing workforce, and research is required to inform and guide management strategy of employers.

Household Preparedness and Perceptions of Workforce Preparedness During Pandemics: A Health Care Employee Survey at the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

To examine the effects of household preparedness on perceptions of workplace preparedness during a pandemic among all employees at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities. The VA Preparedness Survey (October-December 2018, Los Angeles, CA) used a stratified simple random, web-based survey. Multivariate statistical analyses examined the effect of household preparedness on perceptions of workforce preparedness during a pandemic: institutional readiness; desire for additional training; and understanding their role and its importance. VA employees totaling 4026 participated. For a pandemic, 55% were confident in their VA medical facility's ability to respond, 63% would like additional training, 49% understood their role during a response, and 68% reported their role as important. Only 23% reported being "well prepared" at home during major disasters. After controlling for study-relevant factors, household preparedness was positively associated with perceptions of workforce preparedness during a pandemic. Efforts to increase household preparedness for health care employees could bolster workforce preparedness during pandemics. Organizations should consider robust policies and strategies, such as flexible work arrangements, in order to mitigate factors that may serve as barriers to household preparedness.

Artificial intelligence and the medical physics profession - A Swedish perspective.

There is a continuous and dynamic discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) in present-day society. AI is expected to impact on healthcare processes and could contribute to a more sustainable use of resources allocated to healthcare in the future. The aim for this work was to establish a foundation for a Swedish perspective on the potential effect of AI on the medical physics profession. We designed a survey to gauge viewpoints regarding AI in the Swedish medical physics community. Based on the survey results and present-day situation in Sweden, a SWOT analysis was performed on the implications of AI for the medical physics profession. Out of 411 survey recipients, 163 responded (40%). The Swedish medical physicists with a professional license believed (90%) that AI would change the practice of medical physics but did not foresee (81%) that AI would pose a risk to their practice and career. The respondents were largely positive to the inclusion of AI in educational programmes. According to self-assessment, the respondents' knowledge of and workplace preparedness for AI was generally low. From the survey and SWOT analysis we conclude that AI will change the medical physics profession and that there are opportunities for the profession associated with the adoption of AI in healthcare. To overcome the weakness of limited AI knowledge, potentially threatening the role of medical physicists, and build upon the strong position in Swedish healthcare, medical physics education and training should include learning objectives on AI.

Factors associated with work performance and mental health of healthcare workers during pandemics: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction Healthcare workers’ work performance and mental health are associated with positive mental health outcomes and directly related to increased productivity and decreased disability costs. Methods We conducted a systematic review to identify factors associated with work performance of healthcare workers during a pandemic and conducted a meta-analysis of the prevalence of mental health outcomes in this context. Primary papers were collected and analysed using the Population/Intervention/Comparison/Outcome framework and using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. To critically appraise the studies included in the review, we used the AXIS appraisal tool to assess each cross-sectional study’s quality. Results The study identified nine factors associated with the work performance and mental health of healthcare workers, including experiencing feelings of depression, anxiety, having inadequate support, experiencing occupational stress, decreased productivity, lack of workplace preparedness, financial concerns associated with changes in income and daily living, fear of transmission and burnout/fatigue. Conclusion There is a rapidly rising need to address the work performance and mental health of healthcare workers providing timely care to patients. Regular and sustained interventions, including the use of information and communication technologies such as telehealth, are warranted.

Health workforce management in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey of physicians in Serbia.

Background & AimThe study describes the experiences and opinions of Serbian physicians regarding workforce management during the COVID‐19 pandemic.Materials & MethodsA total of 1553 licensed physicians (65% males; average age 44.0 years) responded to an online survey in September 2020. Differences in the respondents' general data and attitudes regarding workforce management and outbreak preparedness in Serbia were analysed in relation to their engagement during the COVID‐19 pandemic (Pearson χ2 and the independent samples t‐test, p < 0.05). The logistic regression model explained the need for changing health workforce management.ResultsThe results reveal that the physicians engaged in the fight against the spread of COVID‐19 (64.4% of the respondents) more often than their counterparts, were clinicians from the public sector, younger, with less work experience, influenced negatively by the pandemic, and reassigned to other positions (p < 0.001). Health workers dissatisfied with workplace preparedness and those reassigned due to COVID‐19 were by 2.61 times and 1.38 times, respectively, more likely than their counterparts to consider changes in health workforce management.Discussion & ConclusionCOVID‐19 underlines the need for changes in health workforce management during public health emergencies. An internal incident management team and a panel of external experts may support health workforce management during the prolonged and rapidly changing crises.

Cohort research analysis of disaster experience, preparedness, and competency-based training among nurses.

IntroductionIt is expected that in unforeseen situations, nurses will provide appropriate medical interventions, using their expertise and skills to reduce the risks associated with the consequences of disasters. Consequently, it is crucial that they are properly prepared to respond to such difficult circumstances. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the basic competences of nurses in disasters.Materials and methodsThe survey was directed to 468 nurses from all medical centres in Lublin. IBM SPSS Statistics version 23 was used for statistical analyses, frequency analysis, basic descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. The classical statistical significance level was adopted as α = 0.05.ResultsBased on the logistic regression analysis, it was found that work experience, workplace preparedness, as well as training and experience in disaster response are important predictors of preparedness.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that the nurses' core competencies for these incidents can be improved through education and training programmes which increase their preparedness for disasters. Nurses are among the most important groups of healthcare professionals facing a disaster and should be involved in all phases of disaster management, such as risk assessment and pre-disaster planning, response during crisis situations and risks’ mitigation throughout the reconstruction period.

COVID-19 in Sri Lanka and Work Setting Changes

COVID-19 has made the world to rethink on their work life. With the increasing infected people and death rate, it is vital to rethink about the work setting where people are gathered in big numbers. The study on “COVID-19 in Sri Lanka and Work Setting Changes” is a comprehensive literature survey which was conducted by incorporating desk research strategy in addition to the rational thinking of the author and observations. Throughout the study COVID-19 and the workplace preparedness for COVID-19 in the world and Sri Lanka was addressed. Reasonably believing that this study contributed to existing literature, the author wishes to state the limitations faced and few recommendations for further researches.

Pennsylvania Workplace Safety: Employee Perceptions of Active Shooter Preparedness.

This study investigated the role of workplace preparedness actions in employee perceptions of workplace risk, workplace preparedness, and personal self-efficacy in an active shooter event. Data were drawn from an online, state representative survey of 668 Pennsylvania residents in 2019. Nearly 40% of employees reported their workplaces had not taken any preparedness actions. Having a workplace take a greater number of preparedness actions was associated with increased self-efficacy and increased perceptions of workplace preparedness, but also an increase in perceived risk. Males and gun owners perceived lower levels of workplace risk and reported substantially higher self-efficacy. However, associations between workplace efforts and self-efficacy differed from those for perceived workplace preparedness. Associations with firearm policy and the presence of security staff also differed for the two outcomes.

The Impact of Experience, Length of Service, and Workplace Preparedness in Physicians' Readiness in the Response to Disasters.

With an increasing number of natural and man-made disasters, the need for preparedness in all levels of management is obvious. Among healthcare professionals responding to these emergencies, physicians are of particular importance due to their significant roles as leaders and frontline workers in minimizing morbidity and mortality of the affected population. This study analyses the preparedness of 549 physicians from all medical centers in Lublin, Poland to formulate their observations, suggestions, and recommendations concerning the improvement of the chain of response in disaster management. The results of this study show that the perceived preparedness of physicians for disaster management and response is not as high as it should be, and the majority of the respondents perceived their disaster preparedness insufficient. Training of physicians in disaster management and principles of disaster medicine is needed, by focusing on the specificity of rescue response to emergencies following disasters, and medical and non-medical aspects of the response with particular emphasis on a management approach covering all hazards.

Fostering 21st Century Skills of the Students of Engineering and Technology

Employment opportunities are scramming from the reach of Indian engineering graduates due to their inadequate skills set. This evinces the skills gap prevailing between the workplace preparedness of the students of engineering and the exigencies of global workforce. 21st Century Skills are the competencies required from the students of present era to succeed in their life and career, in the absence of which the students encounter major employment deficit. Although, studies have been conducted on the need for 21st Century skills and on training teachers to instigate students' skills set, the inevitable focus on students' perception towards their need for career prospects has been left unexplored. Hence, the paper prospects the preparedness and potential of the students of engineering with respect to Learning and Innovation Skills and Life and Career Skills of 21st Century Skills. An online survey with self-rating questionnaire has been administered using random sampling technique among 111 final year students of Mookambigai College of Engineering and Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Engineering College, Tamil Nadu, between December 2018 and January 2019. Descriptive analysis, and parametric tests have been computed to investigate the data using SPSS. The findings have indicated the dearth of students' skills set in employing 21st Century skills set. The results imply the desideratum of enhancing the students' skills set that the study eventually recommends the integration of 21st Century skills set in English classroom of engineering and technology to meet the demands of the workplace.

Current understanding and future directions for an occupational infectious disease standard

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has demonstrated a need for an infectious disease standard that will promote a safe and healthy work environment and assure business continuity. The current pandemic has revealed gaps in workplace preparedness and employee protections to microbial exposures. Federal and state government agencies have responded by providing interim guidelines and stop-gap measures that continue to evolve and vary in approach and required controls. This interim and inconsistent approach has resulted in confusion on the part of businesses as they work toward reopening during the pandemic and uncertainty as to the efficacy of required or suggested controls. Moving forward, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration, with guidance from the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, should establish consistent and effective strategies through a nationwide standard to address the potential microbial exposures in the workplace. Such a standard will require effective worker protections from infectious diseases and assure business continuity.

Dental Health Services Response to COVID-19 in Norway.

We aimed to investigate the management of urgent dental care, the perception of risk and workplace preparedness among dental staff in Norway during the COVID-19 pandemic. An electronic questionnaire regarding the strictest confinement period in Norway (13 March–17 April 2020) was distributed to dental staff. Among the 1237 respondents, 727 (59%) treated patients, of whom 170 (14%) worked in clinics designated to treat patients suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19. Out of them 88% (143) received training and 64% (103) simulation in additional infection prevention procedures, while 27 (24%) respondents reported deviation. In total, 1051 (85%) respondents perceived that dental staff had a high risk of being infected, 1039 (84%) that their workplace handled the current situation well, 767 (62%) that their workplace had adequate infection control equipment and 507 (41%) agreed that their workplace is well equipped to handle an escalation. Before an appointment, 1182 (96%) respondents always/often inquired per phone information if a patient experienced symptoms of COVID-19, and 1104 (89%) asked about a history of travel to affected areas. Twice as many patients on average per week were treated by phone than in a clinic. A lower proportion of dental staff in high incidence counties applied additional infection prevention measures compared to low and medium incidence counties. To conclude, urgent dental health care was managed relatively well in Norway. Additional training of the dental staff in adequate infection prevention and step-by-step procedures may be needed. These results may be used to improve the dental health service’s response to future outbreaks.

Understanding the culture of natural disaster preparedness: exploring the effect of experience and sociodemographic predictors

Understanding the culture of preparedness is essential to improve public policies and programs aimed to promote population preparedness to cope with natural hazards. The present study seeks to explore the influence of experience and sociodemographic variables in different levels of natural disaster preparedness among inhabitants of the Chilean coast. Three domains of preparedness were studied: household, community, and work. Participants were 1504 adults interviewed from representative samples of the coastal cities of Iquique and Concepcion. Our main results suggest that direct prior experience and higher frequency of exposure to earthquakes and tsunamis generate a highest level of preparedness. In the same way, middle-aged adults (30–59 years), who live with a partner and those who have higher education and income level, declare having the highest levels of preparedness. On the other hand, our results denote that for each domain of preparedness, different sociodemographic characteristics influence the level of preparedness. Years living in the city and living with a partner represents the most decisive variable for preparedness at the household unit level. As for community preparedness, gender emerges as the most relevant variable. Educational level and income are variables with the greatest impact in workplace preparedness. These results demonstrate the importance of studying and implementing preparedness activities in other contexts such as community and work. Also, strategies should focus on less prepared groups that may be more vulnerable to the effects of natural disasters.

Corona virus outbreak and Radiology Department: Workplace preparedness, evidence based measures to limit transmission, and how radiologist can help reduce the spread

As we are facing a country wide lockdown in view of international pandemic of Corona Virus-2019 (COVID-19) and deal with never seen before circumstances all over the world, healthcare personnel are often first one to get affected in view of direct exposure because of limited availability of knowledge and personal protection equipment (PPE). Planning and preparedness are essential to respond effectively to outbreaks and epidemic. Radiologists have greater risk of acquiring and transmitting infection due to its close contact with patients during ultrasound (USG) and other procedures related to invasive patient care the service needs to offer. High density, limited space, and working in air conditioned set up are needed for computed tomography, MRI, ultrasonography, X-ray machines; this makes it essential to set specific guidelines to limit transmission and utilize resources in the best possible way so as to minimize the transmission, and at the same time, implementation of a well-prepared plan as per the radiology department is required to prevent further transmission of the virus to department staff members and patients. A multitiered, updated scientific approach suited to us needs to be devised, followed, and monitored at the administrative and departmental level, taking into account the Radiology team that includes doctors, technicians, assistants, and patient contact-operating points. Here, is a systematic scientific review of infection control measures that cover the different dynamics of utmost patient care and staff protocols without hampering the patient treatment for the radiology department set up. We review precautions and safety measures for radiology department personnel to manage patients. It is not clear to what extent the COVID-19 epidemic would establish itself and how long it is going to continue in India. As case diagnosis may take anywhere from a minimum of 14 days to a few months to be visible, we need to enhance surveillance and prepare the community in a proportionate way. Radiology department and the overall health care system should be prepared, educated to continue the servicing emergency scans procedures and important elective procedures following the strict aseptic precautions so health care workers and patients safety are maintained. Each one of us should understand the disease dynamics, routes, and source of transmission and should take utmost precautions to prevent transmission to colleagues and patients by properly using PPE, as early detection and limiting exposure of healthcare workers, employees, and patients is of utmost importance.