scholarly journals Reasons for and Barriers to Attending Continuing Education Activities and Priorities for Different Dental Specialties

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (9) ◽  
pp. 1716-1721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Nazir ◽  
Asim Al-Ansari ◽  
Mohammed Alabdulaziz ◽  
Yousif AlNasrallah ◽  
Murtada Alzain
Keyword(s):  
Continuing Education ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Eastern Province ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Personal Learning ◽  
Dental Practitioners ◽  
High Standards ◽  
Aesthetic Dentistry ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Esthetic Dentistry

BACKGROUND: Continuing education (CE) activities help dentists update their knowledge and skills to ensure high standards of patient care. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the reasons for and barriers to attending CE activities including the priorities for different dental specialities. METHODS: The study involves a cross-sectional research design. After statistical consultation, a questionnaire was distributed among 323 dental practitioners in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was checked for face and content validity, and it was pilot-tested before its administration. RESULTS: The response rate was 79.5% as 257 of 323 dentists returned the questionnaire. Most dentists reported that they attended CE activities because of personal learning needs (67.3%) and career development (66.9%). Lack of clinical experience to effectively manage patients and the practice was the least common (15.2%) reason for attending CE activities. Esthetic dentistry (77.4%), restorative dentistry (70.8%), and endodontics (70%) were the three most preferred dental specialities for CE activities. Lack of time was the most common (69.3%) barrier to attending CE activities followed by the cost (62.6%) and the distance (57.2%). More male (n = 104) than female (n = 69) dentists believed personal learning needs a reason for attending CE activities (P = 0.01). Similarly, more male (n = 104) than female dentists (n = 68) considered lack of time a barrier (P = 0.046). CONCLUSION: Most dentists attended CE activities to fulfil their personal learning needs, and aesthetic dentistry was the most preferred dental speciality for CE activities. Lack of time and cost were important barriers to attending CE activities.

scholarly journals Preferences for and Barriers to Formal and Informal Athletic Training Continuing Education Activities

2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 680-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirk J. Armstrong ◽  
Thomas G. Weidner
Keyword(s):  
Continuing Education ◽  
Athletic Training ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Travel Distance ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Strongly Agree ◽  
Α Level ◽  
The Cost

Context: Our previous research determined the frequency of participation and perceived effect of formal and informal continuing education (CE) activities. However, actual preferences for and barriers to CE must be characterized. Objective: To determine the types of formal and informal CE activities preferred by athletic trainers (ATs) and barriers to their participation in these activities. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Athletic training practice settings. Patients or Other Participants: Of a geographically stratified random sample of 1000 ATs, 427 ATs (42.7%) completed the survey. Main Outcome Measure(s): As part of a larger study, the Survey of Formal and Informal Athletic Training Continuing Education Activities (FIATCEA) was developed and administered electronically. The FIATCEA consists of demographic characteristics and Likert scale items (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree) about preferred CE activities and barriers to these activities. Internal consistency of survey items, as determined by Cronbach α, was 0.638 for preferred CE activities and 0.860 for barriers to these activities. Descriptive statistics were computed for all items. Differences between respondent demographic characteristics and preferred CE activities and barriers to these activities were determined via analysis of variance and dependent t tests. The α level was set at .05. Results: Hands-on clinical workshops and professional networking were the preferred formal and informal CE activities, respectively. The most frequently reported barriers to formal CE were the cost of attending and travel distance, whereas the most frequently reported barriers to informal CE were personal and job-specific factors. Differences were noted between both the cost of CE and travel distance to CE and all other barriers to CE participation (F1,411 = 233.54, P < .001). Conclusions: Overall, ATs preferred formal CE activities. The same barriers (eg, cost, travel distance) to formal CE appeared to be universal to all ATs. Informal CE was highly valued by ATs because it could be individualized.

scholarly journals Nurses’ Attitudes toward, and Needs for Online Learning: Differences between Rural and Urban Hospitals in Shanghai, East China

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 1495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weijie Xing ◽  
Linjun Ao ◽  
Huiting Xiao ◽  
Li Cheng ◽  
Yan Liang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Continuing Education ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Rural Hospitals ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Learning Program ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Urban Hospitals ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Rural And Urban

Health professionals need continuing education to maintain their qualifications and competency. Online learning increases the accessibility and flexibility of continuing education. Assessment of nurses’ attitudes toward, and needs for, online learning can provide suggestions regarding learning program design and delivery. This study aimed to evaluate Chinese nurses’ attitudes toward, and needs for, online learning, and to explore the differences in attitudes and needs between nurses working in rural and urban hospitals. This work is a secondary analysis of a multicenter cross-sectional study conducted in Shanghai in 2015 (n = 550). Multiple regression techniques were used to determine the factors associated with nurses’ attitudes toward, and needs for, online learning. Results showed that nurses in rural hospitals had more positive attitudes toward online learning (102.7 ± 14.2) than those in urban hospitals (98.3 ± 12.9) (p < 0.001). For rural hospitals, nurses who could use computers and access the internet in their workplace reported more positive attitudes than those who could not. For urban hospitals, nurse educators showed significantly more positive attitudes than others. Communication skills (86.5%) and patient education (86.3%) were the most commonly-reported learning needs for nurses regardless of their working settings. Chinese nurses were willing to adopt online learning as a continuing education method. Nurses working in rural hospitals displayed more positive attitudes toward, and needs for, online learning than those working in urban hospitals. Nursing educators and managers should develop online learning programs and provide appropriate support to fulfill nurses’ learning needs, especially for those working in rural healthcare settings.

Suicidal Ideation Among Medical Students in Dammam, Saudi Arabia

Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Mohammed Madadin ◽  
Ritesh G. Menezes ◽  
Maha A. Alassaf ◽  
Abdulaziz M. Almulhim ◽  
Mahdi S. Abumadini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Eastern Province ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Past ◽  
Depression Subscale ◽  
History Of

Abstract. Background: Medical students are at high risk of suicidal ideation. Aim: We aimed to obtain information on suicidal ideation among medical students in Dammam located in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the College of Medicine affiliated with Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Suicidal ideation in the past 12 months was assessed based on responses to four questions in the depression subscale of the General Health Questionnaire 28 (GHQ-28). In addition, data were collected to examine the association of suicidal ideation with various factors. Results: We found that 1 in 3 medical students in the study had suicidal ideation in the past 12 months, while around 40% had lifetime suicidal ideation. Suicidal ideation was associated with feelings of parental neglect, history of physical abuse, and dissatisfaction with academic performance. Limitations: The cross-sectional nature of this study limits its ability to determine causality regarding suicidal ideation. Conclusion: These rates are considerably high when compared with rates from studies in other countries around the world. This study provides a reference in the field of suicidology for this region of Saudi Arabia.

Evaluation of Drug Utilization Pattern Using WHO Prescribing Indicators in Endodontic Department at a Tertiary Hospital in Eastern Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 1191-1195
Author(s):  
Sushmita Shrestha ◽  
Navin Agrawal ◽  
Deependra Prasad Sarraf
Keyword(s):  
Drug Utilization ◽  
Inappropriate Prescribing ◽  
Systemic Infection ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
World Health ◽  
Utilization Pattern ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Prescribing Indicators ◽  
Essential Drug List ◽  
Dental Practitioners

Introduction: Irrational or inappropriate prescribing practice is common in developing countries that can lead to ineffective treatment, prolonged hospitalization, harm to the patient, increased treatment cost and development of drug-resistant organisms. The prescription of antibiotics and other drugs in endodontics is limited to patients with progressive and diffuse swelling and with systemic infection. However, antibiotics continue to be over-prescribed by more than 66% dentists without a rational justification.Therefore, the periodic assessment of drug utilization pattern is important to know the existing pattern of drug use, decrease adverse effects and provide feedback to the prescribers. Objective: To evaluate the drug utilization pattern in endodontics using the World Health Organization prescribing indicators. Methodology: A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted among the patients visiting the outpatient department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics. After obtaining the informed consent, the relevant data were collected on a self-designed proforma by reviewing the health cards of the patients. The WHO prescribing indicators were calculated. Descriptive statistics were calculated using SPSS version 11.0. Results: Out of 187 patients, 101 (54%) were female. Mean age was 38.9±16.6 years. Majority of the patients suffered from acute apical periodontitis (30.5%). A total of 281 drugs were prescribed to 187 patients. Paracetamol+Ibuprofen (44.1%) was the most frequently prescribed drugs. Most of the patients were prescribed one drug (78.6%).  Average drug per prescription was 1.5. Majority of the drugs (89.0%) were prescribed from Essential drug list of Nepal. Conclusions: Analgesics were the most frequently prescribed drug. The prescription practice was rational. There is need to increase the number of medicine prescribed from National List of Essential medicines.Educational initiatives should be undertaken to further strengthen the rational prescription among dental practitioners.

scholarly journals Developing the practice of pre-service physical education teachers through a dyad model of lesson study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1356336X2110046
Author(s):  
Penny Lamb ◽  
Graham King
Keyword(s):  
Physical Education ◽  
Lesson Study ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Learning To Teach ◽  
Individual Learning ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
School Based

This article reports on a dyad model of lesson study aimed at scaffolding the theory and practice of learning to teach physical education. Participants were pre-service teachers (PSTs) completing a 38-week Master’s-level Postgraduate Certificate in Education in eastern England, training to teach the secondary age range (11–18 years). A total of 40 PSTs volunteered to participate in the study during their school-based training. A three-year cross-sectional case-study framework involving three distinct cohorts of PSTs allowed for a comparison of data, captured through computer-mediated communication. Dialogue through email communications and electronic evaluations was analysed inductively. Three substantive themes were identified as a result of the PSTs’ experiences: (a) developing confidence in the classroom through collaboration with a peer; (b) developing physical education pedagogies to support students’ individual learning needs; and (c) developing physical education pedagogies to support assessment of students’ progress. The dyad lesson study model provided a safe and non-hierarchical platform for collaboration between PSTs. Peer-to-peer reflection on aspects of their own practice instilled confidence and enhanced understanding, particularly in relation to understanding students’ individual learning needs to promote progress and assessing such progress. Dyad lesson study positively supported PSTs’ professional development against prescribed Teachers’ Standards beyond the formal hierarchical rules and structures associated with the school-based training process. Such collaborative conversations can help to minimise professional isolation for PSTs during their school-based training and address the juxtaposition of connecting the theory of learning to teach with a holistic view of student learning in practice.

scholarly journals Perspectives of Healthcare Professionals Regarding Factors Associated with Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Their Consequences: A Cross Sectional Study in Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 878
Author(s):  
Mohamed A. Baraka ◽  
Amany Alboghdadly ◽  
Samar Alshawwa ◽  
Asim Ahmed Elnour ◽  
Hassan Alsultan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Inappropriate Prescribing ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Eastern Province ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Factors Influencing

Factors reported in the literature associated with inappropriate prescribing of antimicrobials include physicians with less experience, uncertain diagnosis, and patient caregiver influences on physicians’ decisions. Monitoring antimicrobial resistance is critical for identifying emerging resistance patterns, developing, and assessing the effectiveness of mitigation strategies. Improvement in prescribing antimicrobials would minimize the risk of resistance and, consequently, improve patients’ clinical and health outcomes. The purpose of the study is to delineate factors associated with antimicrobial resistance, describe the factors influencing prescriber’s choice during prescribing of antimicrobial, and examine factors related to consequences of inappropriate prescribing of antimicrobial. A cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare providers (190) in six tertiary hospitals in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. The research panel has developed, validated, and piloted survey specific with closed-ended questions. A value of p < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. All data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM SPSS version 23.0). 72.7% of the respondents have agreed that poor skills and knowledge are key factors that contribute to the inappropriate prescribing of antimicrobials. All of the respondents acknowledged effectiveness, previous experience with the antimicrobial, and reading scientific materials (such as books, articles, and the internet) as being key factors influencing physicians’ choice during antimicrobial prescribing. The current study has identified comprehensive education and training needs for healthcare providers about antimicrobial resistance. Using antimicrobials unnecessarily, insufficient duration of antimicrobial use, and using broad spectrum antimicrobials were reported to be common practices. Furthermore, poor skills and knowledge were a key factor that contributed to the inappropriate use and overuse of antimicrobials, and the use of antimicrobials without a physician’s prescription (i.e., self-medication) represent key factors which contribute to AMR from participants’ perspectives. Furthermore, internal policy and guidelines are needed to ensure that the antimicrobials are prescribed in accordance with standard protocols and clinical guidelines.

Evaluating the Outcomes of a Hospital-to-Community Model of Integrated Care for Dementia

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Ngoc Huong Lien Ha ◽  
Philip Yap Lin Kiat ◽  
Sean Olivia Nicholas ◽  
Ivana Chan ◽  
Shiou Liang Wee
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Integrated Care ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Behavioural Problems ◽  
Gdp Per Capita ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Life Years ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
The Cost

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Living with dementia is challenging for persons with dementia (PWDs) and their families. Although multi-component intervention, underscored by the ethos of person-centred care, has been shown to maintain quality of life (QOL) in PWDs and caregivers, a lack of service integration can hinder effectiveness. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> CARITAS, an integrated care initiative provided through a hospital-community care partnership, endeavours to provide person-centred dementia care through ambulatory clinic consults, case management, patient and caregiver engagement, and support. We evaluated CARITAS’ clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness with a naturalistic cross-sectional within-subject design. We assessed patients’ function, QOL, and behavioural problems post-intervention. We estimated CARITAS’ cost-effectiveness from a patient’s perspective, benchmarking it against other dementia treatments and Singapore’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. <b><i>Results:</i></b> CARITAS care significantly improved health utility (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001), reduced caregiver burden (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001), and improved PWDs’ behavioural problems (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001) related to “memory” (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001), “disruption” (<i>p</i> = 0.017), and “depression” (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). CARITAS’ benefits (<i>d</i><sub>RMBPC</sub> = 0.357, <i>d</i><sub>EQ5D index</sub> = 0.328, <i>d</i><sub>ZBI</sub> = 0.361) were comparable to those of other pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for dementia. CARITAS costs SG$133,056.69 per quality-adjusted life years gain, yielding an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of 1.31 and 1.49 against the cost of donepezil in patients with mild Alz­heimer’s disease and Singapore’s GDP per capita in 2019, respectively, falling within the cost-effectiveness threshold of 1.0–3.0. <b><i>Discussion:</i></b> CARITAS integrated dementia care is a cost-effective intervention that showed promising outcomes for PWDs and their caregivers.

Antibiotic use in goats: role of experience and education of Missouri veterinarians

2020 ◽  
Vol 186 (11) ◽  
pp. 349-349
Author(s):  
Lauren Landfried ◽  
Patrick Pithua ◽  
Roger D Lewis ◽  
Steven Rigdon ◽  
Jonathan Jacoby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Continuing Education ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Intestinal Parasites ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Herd Health ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Prescription Practices

BackgroundIn a previous study, we found that rates of antibiotic residues in goat carcasses in Missouri were three times the published national average, warranting further research in this area.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey of goat veterinarians to determine attitudes and practices regarding antibiotics, recruiting 725 veterinarians listed on the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners (AASRP) website and 64 Missouri Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) veterinarians.ResultsWe collected 189 responses (26.1%) from AASRP members (170 valid) and 8 (12.5%) from MVMA veterinarians totalling 178 responses. While the vast majority of all veterinarians indicated that they prescribed antibiotics less than half of the time, Missouri veterinarians indicated that they spent more time treating goats for overt disease like intestinal parasites and less time on proactive practices such as reproductive herd health management comparatively. While veterinarians agreed that antibiotic resistance was a growing concern, veterinarians outside of Missouri seemed more confident that their own prescription practices was not a contributor. Although nationally most veterinarians felt that attending continuing education classes was beneficial, 73.4% in other states attended classes on antibiotic use compared to only four of the nine Missouri veterinarians.ConclusionMissouri veterinarians had less veterinary experience than veterinarians in other states, and this, in conjunction with low continuing education requirements in Missouri relative to most other states, may hinder development of more proactive and effective client–veterinary relationships.

scholarly journals Overcoming Educational Challenges and Impact of COVID-19 in a Pathology Residency Program

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 237428952199423
Author(s):  
Andres E. Mindiola Romero ◽  
Candice C. Black ◽  
Christopher R. Jackson
Keyword(s):  
New Hampshire ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Digital Pathology ◽  
Clinical Pathology ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Medical Examiner ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Personal Learning

Our program in is a 4-year combined anatomic pathology (AP) and clinical pathology (CP) program located in New Hampshire. Prior to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, double-headed sign-outs and multi-headed scope didactic conferences took place daily. On the autopsy service, cases were performed in-house under attending supervision, and forensic cases were performed at the off-site Office of the Medical Examiner. In CP, residents engaged in weekly didactic CP lectures and engaged in in-person resident-attending discussions, laboratory rounds, and direct patient contact on a daily basis. Institutional Universal Guidelines from the Emergency Order from New Hampshire were imposed at the beginning of the pandemic. These included exposure mitigation and employee screening strategies. Changes to resident rotations and didactic sessions, strategies to maintain resident wellness, and the program director perspectives are described. Amid the pandemic, digital pathology, teleconferencing platforms, and social media became important resources for pathology education. Digital platforms allowed groups of people to communicate and watch live presentations while social distancing. In AP, whole slide imaging allowed both attendings and residents to scan slides for personal learning, slide conferences, and didactic learning sessions. Following these measures, we supported the clinical needs of our medical center and learning needs of our residents while enacting social distancing and prevention guidelines early in the pandemic. Although the full impact of COVID-19 on pathology residency programs is still unknown, we incorporated new facets of communication technologies. These were immensely helpful in maintaining social distancing and helping to reduce the spread of disease.

scholarly journals Cost-Effectiveness of Colorectal Cancer Genetic Testing

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8330
Author(s):  
Abdul Rahman Ramdzan ◽  
Mohd Rizal Abdul Manaf ◽  
Azimatun Noor Aizuddin ◽  
Zarina A. Latiff ◽  
Keng Wee Teik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Genetic Testing ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Cancer Survival ◽  
Screening Method ◽  
Targeted Prevention ◽  
Activity Based Costing ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Cost

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Approximately 3–5% of CRCs are associated with hereditary cancer syndromes. Individuals who harbor germline mutations are at an increased risk of developing early onset CRC, as well as extracolonic tumors. Genetic testing can identify genes that cause these syndromes. Early detection could facilitate the initiation of targeted prevention strategies and surveillance for CRC patients and their families. The aim of this study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of CRC genetic testing. We utilized a cross-sectional design to determine the cost-effectiveness of CRC genetic testing as compared to the usual screening method (iFOBT) from the provider’s perspective. Data on costs and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of 200 CRC patients from three specialist general hospitals were collected. A mixed-methods approach of activity-based costing, top-down costing, and extracted information from a clinical pathway was used to estimate provider costs. Patients and family members’ HRQoL were measured using the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. Data from the Malaysian Study on Cancer Survival (MySCan) were used to calculate patient survival. Cost-effectiveness was measured as cost per life-year (LY) and cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). The provider cost for CRC genetic testing was high as compared to that for the current screening method. The current practice for screening is cost-saving as compared to genetic testing. Using a 10-year survival analysis, the estimated number of LYs gained for CRC patients through genetic testing was 0.92 years, and the number of QALYs gained was 1.53 years. The cost per LY gained and cost per QALY gained were calculated. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) showed that genetic testing dominates iFOBT testing. CRC genetic testing is cost-effective and could be considered as routine CRC screening for clinical practice.

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