scholarly journals Improved levels of critical reflection in Pharmacy Technician student work-placement assessments through emphasising graduate attributes

Author(s):  
Julie Dunne

This study investigated the effect of activities to promote awareness of specific prioritised graduate attributes on the quality of reflection displayed in work-placement reflective blog assessments for Pharmacy-technician students. Previous related research showed an increased tendency to frame placement experiences in terms of graduate attributes when they are made more explicit in the curriculum. Now, a thematic analysis of reflective writing from control and research groups, using a priori codes of ‘reflection’ and ‘graduate attributes’ explored the impact on the depth of critical reflection, and its relationship to explicit discussion of graduate attributes. The findings show an improvement in the quality of reflection, with significantly higher levels of critical reflection in the research group (37%), compared to the control group (20%), and lower levels of the non-reflective categories of thinking such as thoughtful action. Furthermore, in 62% of research group cases, there is overlap between critical reflection references and explicit graduate attributes references. Overall, the quality of reflective writing has improved through framing experiences in terms both of graduate attributes, as well as core theoretical knowledge, leading to increased focus on personal development and consequences for future action.

Author(s):  
Julie Dunne

This study investigated the effect of activities to promote awareness of specific prioritised graduate attributes on the quality of reflection displayed in pharmacy student work-placement reflective blog assessments.The paper focuses on the results from a thematic analysis of reflective writing assisted by NVivo software from a control and research group, using the a priori codes of ‘reflection’ and ‘graduate attributes’, as part of a Participatory Action Research study.The findings show an increase in reflection associated with graduate attributes in the research group compared to the control group. More importantly, there is evidence of an increase in the variety of graduate attributes being discussed by the research group, with the specifically prioritised attributes featuring most frequently. Additionally, the research group were much more likely to explicitly identify the skill or attribute by name.This shows that activities that emphasise graduate attributes within a curriculum in advance of entering an internship or work-placement can help students by providing a focal point to frame their work-placement experiences in their reflective assessments. Students have an increased tendency to frame their placement experiences in terms of graduate attributes, as well as core skills developed in the curriculum. This consequently broadens their reflection and advances their employability, particularly initially securing employment, through improved articulation and evidencing of their transferable skills. It also provides a means of assessing the development of graduate attributes, which is a challenging but necessary academic task in a modern professional curriculum. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 52-69
Author(s):  
Reynaldo Gustavo Rivera ◽  
Jazmín Nogaró

The third sector, key to social and personal development, needs to evolve and adapt to the technological revolution and digitalization that accelerated due to the global pandemic of COVID-19. Social marketing offers strategies and tools that allow digitalizing processes of female empowerment in contexts of poverty, violence, inequality, and social exclusion. People living in these contexts were the ones that suffered the most from the pandemic, both due to the number of deaths coupled with a lack of access to quality health care, and an increase in interpersonal conflict. The latter aggravated by the mandatory isolation measures imposed by the governments, which made it practically impossible for civil society organizations (CSOs) to intervene. This article presents a case of social marketing oriented to the development, implementation, and evaluation of a people-centered protocol (EduQualitas SM) for the digitalization of empowerment and positive personal development, based on interpersonal relationships and reflexiveness. Through qualitative and quantitative methodologies, the study analyses the impact of its application in a social marketing campaign (Orientación Familiar Digital - OFD) that aimed to improve the quality of life of women in the area of ​​greatest social exclusion in Argentina. The implemented campaign sought to digitalize the formative processes of an international CSO and develop empathy, a fundamental capacity for the quality of life and the reduction of both structural poverty and violence against women. The impact assessment of EduQualitas SM was of a mixed design that included a quasi-experimental intervention without a control group, based on the Argentine adaptation of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). This research presents one of the first Latin American cases of CSO digitalization strategies for the development of empathy of women in situations of social exclusion.


Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Ye ◽  
Dawei Zhu ◽  
Siyuan Chen ◽  
Xuefeng Shi ◽  
Rui Gong ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hearing loss is quite prevalent and can be related to people’s quality of life. To our knowledge, there are limited studies assessing the efficacy of hearing interventions on quality of life in adults. Therefore, we aim to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to determine the impact and cost-effectiveness of community-based hearing rehabilitation on quality of life among Chinese adults with hearing loss. Methods/design In this two-arm feasibility study, participants aged 16 and above with some degree of hearing loss (n = 464) will be recruited from Linyi City, Shandong Province. They are randomly assigned to the treatment group or the control group. Those in the treatment group are prescribed with hearing aids, while those in the control group receive no intervention. Reinstruction in use of devices is provided for the treatment group during booster visits held 12 months post-randomization or unscheduled interim visits when necessary. Data are collected at baseline and the follow-up 20 months later. The primary outcome is changes in quality of life over a 20-month study period. Secondary outcomes include sub-dimensions in quality of life, physical functioning, chronic diseases, cognitive function, depression, social support, hospitalizations, falls, and healthcare costs. Finally, we will evaluate whether hearing aids intervention is cost-effective to apply in a large scale. Discussion The trial is designed to evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of a community-based rehabilitation intervention on quality of life among Chinese adults with hearing loss. We hope that it would help improve the well-being for Chinese adults and provide references in policy and practice for China and other countries. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900024739. Registered on 26 July 2019.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 469-473
Author(s):  
Ting Fang ◽  
Nian Wang ◽  
Meng Chen ◽  
Hongmei Ma

Objective Explore the impact of personalized nursing services and hospice care on the quality of life of elderly patients with advanced cancer. Method We selected 80 elderly cancer patients admitted to our hospital from September 2020 to May 2021, and divided these patients into a study group and a control group using a random number table method. The patients in the control group used conventional nursing methods to treat and care for the patients, and the patients in the study group used hospice care measures and combined personalized nursing measures. The quality of life and pain treatment effects of the two groups of patients before and after treatment were compared. Result Before treatment, the quality-of-life scores of the two groups of patients were low, and there was no statistical difference (P>0.05); After treatment, the quality of life of the two groups of patients improved, but compared with the control group, the improvement was more obvious in the study group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). In terms of pain treatment effect, the total effective rate of pain treatment in the study group was 87.5%, which was significantly better than the 62.5% in the control group. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Personalized nursing services and hospice care are conducive to improving the survival and treatment of elderly patients with advanced cancer, and can be used as a clinical application program for the care of advanced cancer patients.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Gaboury ◽  
Michel Tousignant ◽  
Hélène Corriveau ◽  
Matthew Menear ◽  
Guylaine Le Dorze ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Strong evidence supports beginning stroke rehabilitation as soon as the patient’s medical status has stabilized and continuing following discharge from acute care. However, adherence to rehabilitation treatments over the rehabilitation phase has been shown to be suboptimal. OBJECTIVE Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the impact of a telerehabilitation platform on stroke patients’ adherence to a rehabilitation plan and on their level of reintegration to normal social activities, in comparison with usual care. The primary outcome is patient adherence to stroke rehabilitation (up to 12 weeks), which is hypothesized to influence reintegration to normal living. Secondary outcomes for patients include functional recovery and independence, depression, adverse events related to telerehabilitation, use of services (up to 6 months), perception of interprofessional shared decision making, and quality of services received. Interprofessional collaboration as well as quality of interprofessional shared decision making will be measured on clinicians. METHODS In this interrupted time series with a convergent qualitative component, rehabilitation teams will be trained to develop rehabilitation treatment plans that engage the patient and family, while taking advantage of a telerehabilitation platform to deliver the treatment. The intervention will entail 220 patients to receive stroke telerehabilitation with an interdisciplinary group of clinicians (telerehabilitation) versus face-to-face, standard of care (n = 110 patients). RESULTS Results: Our Research Ethics Board has approved the study in June 2020. Data collection for the control group is underway, with another year planned before we begin the intervention phase. CONCLUSIONS This study will contribute to minimize both knowledge and practice gaps, while producing robust, in-depth data on the factors related to the effectiveness of telerehabilitation in a stroke rehabilitation continuum. Findings will inform best practices guidelines regarding telecare services and the provision of telerehabilitation, including recommendations regarding effective interdisciplinary collaboration regarding stroke rehabilitation. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04440215


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Péron ◽  
Philippe Voruz ◽  
Jordan Pierce ◽  
Kévin Ahrweiller ◽  
Claire Haegelen ◽  
...  

Abstract Risk factors for long-term non-motor disorders and quality of life following subthalamic nucleus deep-brain stimulation (STN DBS) have not yet been fully identified. In the present study, we investigated the impact of motor symptom asymmetry in Parkinson’s disease.Data were extracted for 52 patients with Parkinson’s disease (half with left-sided motor symptoms and half with right-sided ones) who underwent bilateral STN and a matched healthy control group. Performances for cognitive tests and neuropsychiatric and quality-of-life questionnaires at 12 months post-DBS were compared with a pre-DBS baseline. Results indicated a deterioration in cognitive performance post-DBS in patients with left-sided motor symptoms. Performances of patients with right-sided motor symptoms were maintained, except for a verbal executive task. These differential effects had an impact on patients’ quality of life. The results highlight the existence of two distinct cognitive profiles of Parkinson’s disease, depending on motor symptom asymmetry. This asymmetry is a potential risk factor for non-motor adverse effects following STN DBS.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3C) ◽  
pp. 607-612
Author(s):  
Sergey Kokhan ◽  
Elena Romanova ◽  
Vladislav Dychko ◽  
Elena Dychko ◽  
Danil Dychko ◽  
...  

The article shows the results of physical therapy of those who have had coronavirus infection COVID-19 and who have completed a month's course of physical rehabilitation as a part of rehabilitation measures in the conditions of the innovative clinic "Academy of Health". The aim of the research is to study the impact of pulmonary rehabilitation programs for patients with moderate to severe COVID-19. The implementation of special breathing exercises made it possible to improve the oxygen saturation in the blood, to reduce shortness of breath and indicators of respiratory symptoms.  The tolerance to exercise has increased; physical activity and the quality of life of patients with pneumonia associated with COVID-19 have improved. The best results of the EQ-5D quality of life assessment were recorded in the experimental group compared to the control group.


2021 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 04009
Author(s):  
Irina Chervonova

The article presents the results of studying the impact of the spore-forming probiotic “Olin” and the prebiotic “Eсofiltrum” on the meat quality of broiler chicken carcasses of the Ross-308 cross. In the course of the research, it has been found that the inclusion of these preparations in the broiler diet has a positive effect on the studied indicators: the pre-slaughter weight increased by 4.3-5.7%, the weight of the gutted carcass by 4.6-6.2%, the muscle weight 4.8-6.5%, the weight of the loin muscles by 5.7-8.2%. The ratio of edible parts to inedible parts is 4.14 in the third experimental group, 4.08-in the second, and 4.04-in the control. Based on the results of the anatomical cutting of broiler carcasses and according to the fatness indicators the poultry carcasses of the third and second experimental groups, 87.5% and 87.2%, respectively, belong to the first grade, and the yield of the first grade carcasses is 86.2% in the control group. Meat products obtained from both the control poultry and the poultry of both experimental groups has no off-aroma odor and taste, the meat is juicy, tender and aromatic. The products obtained from broiler chickens, whose ration includes the probiotic “Olin” and the prebiotic “Ecofiltrum”, do not have any deviations from the established standards and norms. During the research, it has been found that the use of the studied drugs has a positive effect on the meat quality of poultry carcasses. However, broiler chickens receiving the probiotic “Olin” has more pronounced meat qualities.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S603-S603
Author(s):  
J. Cabral ◽  
C. Barreto Carvalho ◽  
P. Castilho Freitas ◽  
C. Pato

IntroductionIntervention with informal caregivers (IC) of psychiatric patients is internationally recognized as relevant and a priority. However, the existing responses in this area are still insufficient, especially regarding caregivers of individuals with mood disorders (MD). Mindfulness and compassion focused therapy have proven to be an effective approach in stress reduction and in improving emotional and social well-being of caregivers of patients with other conditions. However, no studies testing these new approaches in IC of patients with MD have been carried out. The objective of this work is to present a research project that aims to develop, implement and empirically test the effectiveness of an innovative group program to help informal caregivers of individuals with mood disorders to cope with the negative impact of the disease and reduce caregiver burdens.MethodsThe design of this experimental study to test the program's efficacy is a non-randomised controlled trial (nrct) with 12 months follow-up, with a mixed assessment methodology (quantitative and qualitative analysis). A sample of 60 informal caregivers of individuals with chronic MD will be constituted (n = 30 Control group; n= 30 Experimental group).ResultsWe expect the program to promote significant changes in participants in terms of several emotional variables (eg: burden, stress, resilience, compassion and quality of life).ConclusionsFurther efforts to continue studying the impact of interventions in caregivers should be carried out, as a way to improve the quality of life of caregivers and their ability to provide informal care to MD patients.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


Author(s):  
Yang-Ting Hsu ◽  
Jo-Chi Jao

Radiologic technologists face various types of patients during multi-detector computed tomography (CT) examinations. In emergency departments, it is common to have patients who cannot follow instructions for the examinations. The asymmetric axial view of the head CT might affect the correctness of the clinician’s diagnosis. This study aimed to assess the impact of head positioning on the image quality of head CT using two phantoms. All scans were performed on a 16-slice CT scanner. In the control group, the tilted angle of the phantoms was 0[Formula: see text], and no multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) was performed. In the experimental groups, the tilted angles of the phantoms were 5[Formula: see text], 10[Formula: see text] and 15[Formula: see text], respectively, and MPR was performed afterwards. The results showed that if the head was tilted during the head CT examinations, image asymmetry and artifacts appeared without MPR. After MPR, one phantom showed that there were significant differences and the other phantom showed no significant differences quantitatively in image symmetry and artifacts between experimental groups and the control group, while both phantoms showed no significant differences qualitatively in image symmetry and artifacts between experimental groups and the control group. Although MPR can correct the image asymmetry and artifacts caused by tilted head positioning to some extent, it consumes time. Therefore, technologists should position the head as exactly as possible when performing head CT examinations.


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