The potential of a self-assessment tool to identify healthcare professionals’ strengths and areas in need of professional development to aid effective facilitation of group-based, person-centered diabetes education

This paper introduces the innovative model FieldTransFormation360 and its aim to help educational leaders in assessing their personal mastery. Moreover, it presents empirical findings from its first exploratory applicationin an Austrian leadership framework. In a first conceptual part, the theoretical underpinnings and the context of the origin of the model are outlined with reference to similar approaches in the area of school leadership. In the following part, the application of the model is introduced through the explanation of the methodology and how the model is turned into a self-assessment instrument. Insights into the results of its exploratoryapplication in the Austrian Leadership Academy are presented in the empirical part. Its first application serves as the consolidation and validation of FieldTransFormation360 as a meaningful self-assessment tool for the professional development of school leaders. The results of the exploratory approach with participants in the Austrian Leadership Academy suggest that the model and its instrument can be regarded as a robust assessment tool for the development of a deeper understanding about the transformative power through personal and professional development in the lived experience of educational leadership.

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A Path to Early Diagnosis of MCI and Dementia: Integrating myMemCheck Into the Primary Care Workflow

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.839 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 261-262

Author(s):

William Mansbach ◽

Ryan Mace ◽

Theresa Frangiosa ◽

Virginia Biggar ◽

Meryl Comer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Cognitive Status ◽

Diagnostic Process ◽

Characteristic Analysis ◽

Self Assessment ◽

Study Results

Abstract Barriers to the early detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia can delay diagnosis and treatment. myMemCheck® was developed as a rapid free cognitive self-assessment tool that can be completed in the practice setting or at home to identify older adults that would benefit from a more comprehensive cognitive evaluation for MCI and dementia. Two prospective cross-sectional studies (N = 59; N = 357) were conducted to examine the psychometric properties and clinical utility of myMemCheck®. myMemCheck® evidenced adequate reliability (test-retest, r = 0.67) and strong construct validity (η2 = 0.29, discriminating normal, MCI, dementia). Receiver operating characteristic analysis evidenced an optional myMemCheck® cut score for identifying older adults with MCI or dementia (sensitivity = 0.80, specificity = 0.67, positive predictive value = 0.91, negative predictive value = 0.43). myMemCheck® explained 25% of cognitive status beyond basic patient information. We provide specific suggestions for integrating myMemCheck® into practice to optimize workflow. Study results are further interpreted in the context of two national online surveys (healthcare professionals, N = 181; consumers, N = 1740). Healthcare professionals widely agreed on the need (94%) and importance (86%) of cognitive self-assessments. Public demand for cognitive self-assessment was confirmed by consumers who trialed myMemCheck® as part of their survey participation—86% agreed on the need for a tool like myMemCheck®. Mixed methods findings suggest that myMemCheck® could fast- track the diagnostic process, facilitate appropriate referrals for cognitive and neuropsychological evaluation, reduce assessment burden in healthcare, and prevent negative outcomes associated with undetected cognitive impairment.

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How might clinical pharmacists use a profession developed competency based self-assessment tool to direct their professional development?

Australian Journal of Clinical Education ◽

10.53300/001c.24868 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Berenice Sheridan

Keyword(s):

Professional Development ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Self Assessment ◽

Clinical Pharmacists ◽

Competency Based

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Developing and validating a self-assessment tool for health promotion competencies with training participants in Austria

Health Promotion International ◽

10.1093/heapro/daaa073 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Gert Lang

Keyword(s):

Professional Development ◽

Health Promotion ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Structural Equation Models ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Workplace Health Promotion ◽

Core Competencies ◽

Background Information ◽

Self Assessment ◽

Training Courses

Abstract A key objective of health promotion capacity building and professional development programmes is to enhance competencies in the workforce or training participants. The goal of this study was to investigate and validate the psychometric properties of a recently developed self-assessment tool, based on ‘The CompHP core competencies framework for health promotion’, to establish whether it is suitable for evaluating training. The tool was employed in 2018 to evaluate two different programmes, with 584 participants submitting their assessment and evaluation of 77 different health promotion training courses in a paper and pencil questionnaire. Longitudinal data were available for 148 participants in the programme for workplace health promotion because they completed an online questionnaire beforehand. The reliability and validity of the assessment tool were tested in several confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation models. Structurally, there was a significant increase in health promotion competencies when comparing measurements before and after training. Furthermore, participants were shown to have different levels of competencies due to their prior knowledge, the format of the course or the professional development programme attended but not based on gender, age or sector. The results justify the creation of an overall scale to assess core health promotion competencies that are suitable for evaluating training courses. However, various methodological issues need to be considered in future applications including decisions about the design of the study (e.g. pre–post test, control groups), type of measurements (e.g. general and specific instrument, background information) and depth of analysis (e.g. confirmatory model and invariance testing).

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A Systematic Review of Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge, Self-Efficacy and Attitudes Towards Working with Autistic People

Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders ◽

10.1007/s40489-021-00263-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kirsten Corden ◽

Rebecca Brewer ◽

Eilidh Cage

Keyword(s):

Health Professionals ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Vital Role ◽

Narrative Synthesis ◽

Quality Assessment Tool ◽

Professional Background ◽

Autistic People

AbstractHealthcare professionals play a vital role in identifying and supporting autistic people. This study systematically reviewed empirical research examining healthcare professionals’ knowledge, self-efficacy and attitudes towards working with autistic people. Thirty-five studies were included. The included studies sampled a range of countries and professional backgrounds. A modified quality assessment tool found the quality of the included studies was moderately good. Narrative synthesis indicated that healthcare professionals report only moderate levels of autism knowledge and self-efficacy, and often lack training. Variation within and between countries and professional background was not explained by demographic factors. The reviewed evidence suggests health professionals’ limited knowledge and self-efficacy in working with autistic people is a challenge to the provision of healthcare for autistic individuals.

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Testing a self-assessment tool for HP competencies with participants of training courses in Austria

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.1050 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

G Lang

Keyword(s):

Assessment Tool ◽

Core Competencies ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

International Standards ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Self Assessment ◽

High Quality ◽

Training Courses ◽

Training Programmes

Abstract Background High quality health promotion (HP) depends on a competent workforce for which professional development programmes for practitioners are essential. The “CompHP Core Competencies Framework in HP” defines crucial competency domains but a recent review concluded that the implementation and use of the framework is lacking. The aim was to develop and validate a self-assessment tool for HP competencies, which should help evaluate training courses. Methods A brief self-assessment tool was employed in 2018 in Austria. 584 participants of 77 training courses submitted their post-course assessment (paper-pencil, RR = 78.1%). In addition, longitudinal data are available for 148 participants who filled in a pre-course online questionnaire. Measurement reliability and validity was tested by single factor, bifactor, multigroup, and multilevel CFA. A SEM proved for predictive and concurrent validity, controlling gender and age. Results A bifactor model (X2/df=3.69, RMSEA=.07, CFI=.95, sRMR=.07) showed superior results with a strong general CompHP factor (FL>.65, wH=.90, ECV=.85), configurally invariant for two training programmes. On course level, there was only minimal variance between trainings (ICC<.08). Structurally, there was a significant increase in HP competencies when comparing pre- and post-course measurements (b=.33, p<.01). Participants showed different levels of competencies due to prior knowledge (b=.38, p<.001) and course format (b=.16, p<.06). The total scale had good properties (m = 49.8, sd = 10.3, 95%-CI: 49.0-50.7) and discriminated between groups (eg by training length). Conclusions The results justify the creation of an overall scale to assess core HP competencies. It is recommended to use the scale for evaluating training courses. The work compensates for the lack of empirical studies on the CompHP concept and facilitates a broader empirical application of a uniform competency framework for HP in accordance with international standards in HP and public health. Key messages The self-assessment tool provides a good and compact foundation for assessing HP competencies. It provides a basis for holistic, high quality and sustainable capacity building or development in HP.

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Beijing Friendship Hospital Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool for Elderly Male (BFH-OSTM) vs Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) for identifying painful new osteoporotic vertebral fractures in older Chinese men: a cross-sectional study

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

10.1186/s12891-021-04476-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ning An ◽

Ji Sheng Lin ◽

Qi Fei

Keyword(s):

Assessment Tool ◽

Roc Curves ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Self Assessment ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Fracture Group ◽

Friendship Hospital ◽

Fracture Risk Assessment Tool ◽

Older Chinese ◽

Sensitivity Specificity

Abstract Background To compare the validation of four tools for identifying painful new osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (PNOVCFs) in older Chinese men: bone mineral density (BMD), Asian osteoporosis self-assessment tool (OSTA), World Health Organization fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX) (without BMD) and Beijing Friendship Hospital Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool (BFH-OSTM). Methods A cross sectional study was conducted from 2013 to 2019. A total of 846 men aged ≥50 were included and were divided into two groups: Fracture Group (patients with PNOVCFs underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty surgery) and Non-Fracture Group (community dwelled subjects for healthy examination). All subjects accepted a dual-energy X-ray BMD test and a structured questionnaire. The results of BMD, OSTA, FRAX and BFH-OSTM scores were assessed and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to compare the validity of four tools for identifying PNOVCFs. Optimal cutoff points, sensitivity, specificity, and areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) were determined. Results There were significant differences including BMD T score (femoral neck, total hip and L1-L4), OSTA, FRAX and BFH-OSTM scores between Fracture group and Non-fracture group. Compared to BMD and OSTA, BFH-OSTM and FRAX had better predictive value, the sensitivity, specificity and AUC value are 0.841, 81.29%, 70.67% and 0.796, 74.85%, 78.52%, respectively. Compared with FRAX, the BFH-OSTM has a better AUC value. Conclusions Both BFH-OSTM and FRAX can be used to identify POVCFs, However, BFH-OSTM model may be a more simple and effective tool to identify the risk of POVCFs in Chinese elderly men.

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