What’s important to you? Socioeconomic inequalities in the perceived importance of health compared to other life domains

Background Pressing issues, like financial concerns, may outweigh the importance people attach to health. This study tested whether health, compared to other life domains, was considered more important by people in high versus low socioeconomic positions, with future focus and financial strain as potential explanatory factors. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2019 among N=1,330 Dutch adults. Participants rated the importance of two health-related domains (not being ill, living a long life) and seven other life domains (e.g., work, family) on a five-point scale. A latent class analysis grouped participants in classes with similar patterns of importance ratings. Differences in class membership according to socioeconomic position (indicated by income and education) were examined using structural equation modelling, with future focus and financial strain as mediators. Results Three classes were identified, which were defined as: neutralists, who found all domains neutral or unimportant (3.5% of the sample); hedonists, who found most domains important except living a long life, work, and religion (36.2%); and maximalists, who found nearly all domains important, including both health domains (60.3%). Of the neutralists, 38% considered not being ill important, and 30% considered living a long life important. For hedonists, this was 92% and 39%, respectively, and for maximalists this was 99% and 87%, respectively. Compared to belonging to the maximalists class, a low income predicted belonging to the neutralists, and a higher educational level and unemployment predicted belonging to the hedonists. No mediation pathways via future focus or financial strain were found. Conclusions Lower income groups were less likely to consider not being ill important. Those without paid employment and those with a higher educational level were less likely to consider living a long life important. Neither future focus nor financial strain explained these inequalities. Future research should investigate socioeconomic differences in conceptualisations of health, and if inequalities in the perceived importance of health are associated with inequalities in health. To support individuals dealing with challenging circumstances in daily life, health-promoting interventions could align to the life domains perceived important to reach their target group and to prevent widening socioeconomic health inequalities.

Educational Needs of European Intensive Care Nurses with Respect to Multicultural Care. A Mix-Method Study

The aim of the study is the analysis of educational needs of European intensive care nurses (ICNs) with regard to multicultural care. A mixed-method multinational study was performed among 591 ICNs coming from 15 European countries. An online survey was utilised with three research tools: participants’ sociodemographic details, Healthcare Provider Cultural Competence Instrument, and a tool to assess the educational needs of ICU nurses with respect to multicultural care. The highest mean values in self-assessment of preparation of ICU nurses to provide multicultural nursing care and their educational needs in this regard were detected in the case of nurses coming from Southern Europe (M = 4.09; SD = 0.43). With higher age, nurses recorded higher educational needs in the scope of multicultural care (r = 0.138; p = 0.001). In addition, speaking other languages significantly correlated with higher educational needs related to care of patients coming from different cultures (Z = −4.346; p < 0.001) as well as previous education on multicultural nursing care (Z = −2.530; p = 0.011). Experiences of difficult situations when caring for culturally diverse patients in ICU were classified into categories: ‘treatment procedures and general nursing care’, ‘family visiting’, ‘gender issues’, ‘communication challenges’, and ‘consequences of difficult experiences’. The educational needs of intensive care nurses in caring for culturally diverse patients are closely related to experiencing difficult situations when working with such patients and their families.

Selection of a Higher Educational Institution by Foreign Students: Motives, Factors and Problems (Based on the Results of Sociological Studies)

The article presents the results of two sociological studies carried out for the purpose of research of motivation of obtaining a higher education and factors of selection of a higher educational institution by foreign students, revelation of problems and elaboration of recommendations for their solution. It was revealed that foreign students in general praise obtaining a higher education, and that motivational postulates of obtaining education include not only commercial goals but cultural as well. It was established that Russian education is praised by foreign students in terms of quality, and that foreign students seek Russian education purposefully. It was found that Russia is a financially attractive country for foreign students, including employment. The study demonstrated a great significance of the website and social media of a higher educational institute for making decision on obtaining education in this higher educational institute. The results of the study showed that the level of competence in higher educational institutes of the city conforms to the requirements of foreign students and satisfies their demands maximally. At the same time several problems were revealed relating to training of foreign students: language problems; problems in training; communicational problems; social and cultural problems and social and everyday problems. Several recommendations were made to solve those problems.

Role of Higher Educational Institutes in Developing Self-Reliant Economies

Higher education has the ability to contribute to global, national, and local growth. Institutions of higher education have played an important role in society throughout modern history, training the elite and making groundbreaking advances in science and the humanities. Education broadens people's perspectives on themselves and the world around them. It improves people's competitiveness and innovation while also encouraging entrepreneurship and technical advancement. This chapter will provide an insight on the role of higher educational institutes in economic development. The chapter will provide cross-country analysis and cases from different parts of the globe.

Micro Credentialing in the Landscape of Higher Education

Focusing on micro credentials, which are shorter, industry-specific courses designed to demonstrate competencies in a specific skillset, this chapter aims to contribute by analyzing and assessing the use of micro credentialing in the higher educational landscape. The chapter will begin with an overview of micro course, focusing on their history and current use in higher educational institutions. Next, the chapter will assess the strengths, limitations, and impacts of micro courses. Finally, the chapter will conclude with a reflection on the lessons universities can learn from the existing structures of micro course programing with the aim of providing administrators, instructors, and educators insights into the impacts these courses could have on broader continuing education programs.