The assessment of teamwork competencies for students focuses on dimensionality and mixed-method assessment

The challenges of assessing teamwork competency, which internal structures can be multidimensional and complex. It is necessary to assess of the teamwork competency as unidimensional or multidimensional structures and perform assessments in a variety of ways to ensure accuracy and accuracy from the assessment. The research objectives were to assess the dimension of students’ teamwork competencies and to assess students’ teamwork competencies using mixed methods assessment. Participants were 385 students in advanced professional innovation scholarship undergoing empowerment process for dimensional and quantitative assessment, 10 experts panel for setting cut-off score of assessment criteria, and 40 students for qualitative assessment. Research instrumentations were teamwork competency self-assessment digital form, the setting questionnaire of the cut-off score of assessment criteria for expert judgment, and an interview form for qualitative assessment. Data were analysed by mean, standard deviation, Eigen value, one-way multivariate analysis of variance (one-way MANOVA), thematic analysis. Research results found that: The teamwork competencies were appropriate for multi-dimension assessment, the ratio between the Eigen value of factor 1 toward the Eigen value of factor 2 was equal to 1.078. Quantitative assessment of teamwork competencies, Building a team relationship (BTR) at high to a very high level, participation in a team exchange (PTE) at a high level, adapting and creating a team atmosphere (ACT) at a very high level, and supporting a team (STE) high to a very high level. In addition, the main effect (region) on BTR and STE, the results showed that there were statistically significant region differences with small to moderate effect size, but on PTE and ACT, the results showed that there were no statistically significant region differences. Qualitative assessment of students’ perspective reflects the reasons for the teamwork competencies found that significant of building a team relationship comprised nineteen-theme (Priority three: Make a success of the team, good working friendship, and it's easy to build harmony and grouping with friends) and significant of supporting a team comprised six-theme Priority three: Reduce conflicts, Strengthen teamwork, and Make it work better). The quantitative assessment of teamwork competencies reflects to appropriate for multi-dimension assessment, and the qualitative assessments also support the explanation of teamwork competencies with multidimensional characteristics of students.

A meta-analysis examining technology-assisted L2 vocabulary learning

This meta-analysis examines the effectiveness of technology-assisted second language (L2) vocabulary learning as well as identifies factors that may play a role in their effectiveness. We found 34 studies with 2,511 participants yielding 49 separate effect sizes. Following the procedure developed by Hunter and Schmidt (2004), we corrected for sample size bias and measurement error. The overall effect size for using technology to learn L2 vocabulary was d = 0.64, which is a moderate effect size. The Q statistic indicated a significant variability in effect size, so we followed up with a theory-driven moderator analysis. The results of the moderator analysis revealed that learners benefited more from technology-assisted L2 vocabulary learning with incidental instruction than with intentional instruction; types of assessment were not significant moderators of the effect on technology-assisted L2 vocabulary learning; technology-assisted L2 vocabulary learning is more effective when the target language is close to the learner’s first language; college students benefited more from technology-assisted L2 vocabulary learning than K–12 students; and, finally, mobile-assisted L2 vocabulary learning was more effective than computer-assisted L2 vocabulary learning.

O efeito do método Pilates na fadiga em pacientes com câncer de mama / The effect of Pilates Method on fatigue in breast cancer patients

PURPOSE: Cancer-related fatigue is a persistent and subjective physical or emotional feeling that interferes with the life quality in breast cancer survivors. Thus, it can lead to a vicious circle of inactivity, which leads to deconditioning, emotional stress and sleep disorders, which interferes with the daily activities and self-esteem. Pilates method is a good exercise program for the breast cancer survivor because includes resistance and stretching exercises synchronized with breathing. The main purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of Pilates exercises on muscle fatigue in patients with breast cancer in the behavioral, affective and sensory domains. METHODS: A longitudinal study was carried out, in which 34 women with fatigue were recruited in the late postoperative of breast cancer. The evaluations were executed using the Revised Piper Fatigue Scale. Statistical analysis was performed using SigmaPlot 14.0 Program. Statistical significance was set as P0.05 and the responsiveness was calculated using effect size by Cohen. Parameters for 3 time points (admission, 30 days and 90 days) were compared using the Friedman test. RESULTS: In general there was a statistically significant difference between the admission group and 30 days with a moderate effect size. After 90 days of exercise only the comportamental and affective domains presented statistically significant difference with a moderate effect size. CONCLUSION: Thus, it was possible to demonstrate that Pilates exercises significantly improve muscle fatigue in women in the late postoperative period of breast cancer after 30 days of exercises and the behavioral and affective domain after 90 days.

Differences of Motor Proficiency in Preschool Girls Related to Organized Physical Activity

This study purpose was to determine the level of motor competence and differences in motor skills of preschool girls aged 5 to 7 from Serbia according to participation in organized physical activities. Materials and methods. Ninety-one girls aged 5-7 years (mean ± 6.4) were divided into three subsamples: control group, rhythmic gymnastics and sports school. Girls were assessed with the MABC-2 test. Descriptive statistics analyzed the basic characteristics of participants according to the level of motor competence. Furthermore, Pearson’s χ2 test for contingency tables, MANOVA and discriminant analysis were employed to find differences in motor proficiency among groups. Results. Significant differences have been found in girls attending rhythmic gymnastics in aiming & catching on the upper bound of moderate effect size (p < 0.001, η2 = 139), and total test score moderate effect size (p = 0.006, η2 = 0.105) compared to girls who did not participate in organized physical activity. The discrimination coefficient explained the differences in girls in aiming and catching, with a contribution of 41.4%, balance skills with 24%, and a total test score of 22.9%. According to the level of motor competence, 61% from the control group and 40% from the sports school group scored below average in aiming & catching. The total test score of ≥ 50 percentile was achieved by 68.3% of girls in the control group, 84% in the sports school group, and 96% in rhythmic gymnastics. Conclusion. This study confirms that sports practice contributes to the development of motor capabilities and influences individual differences in children’s scores. Our findings can contribute to understanding how important it is to promote object control skills games for girls and older preschoolers generally.

The Effectiveness of Virtual Reality on Anxiety and Performance in Female Soccer Players

With the increased use of technology, relaxation interventions are finding their way into technology devices like virtual reality head-mounted displays (VR HMDs). However, there is a lack of evidence on the efficacy of VR relaxation interventions to reduce anxiety in athletes and how that is portrayed in their movement patterns. The purpose of the current study was to examine how a VR relaxation intervention affected perceived anxiety levels and penalty kick performance of female soccer players. Thirteen female soccer players took five penalty kicks in baseline, stress-induced, and VR relaxation conditions. Perceived levels of anxiety, self-confidence, mental effort, heart rate (HR), accelerometry of the lumbar spine and thigh, and performance in each condition was obtained. Results indicated that the VR intervention significantly reduced cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety from baseline (p = 0.002; p = 0.001) and stress (p < 0.001; p < 0.001) with large effect sizes (Kendall’s W = 0.72; 0.83). VR significantly increased self-confidence from baseline (p = 0.002) and stress (p = 0.001) with a large effect size (Kendall’s W = 0.71). Additionally, all participants felt that VR helped them relax. Mental effort was significantly higher in the stress condition compared to that in baseline (p = 0.007) with moderate effect size (Kendall’s W = 0.39). Peak acceleration and performance were not significantly influenced by stress or VR. This study serves as an initial step to evaluate VR relaxation interventions on performance in female soccer players.

Safety and Tolerability of a Wearable, Vibrotactile Stimulation Device for Parkinson’s Disease

Background: Resting tremor is a cardinal symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD) that contributes to the physical, emotional, and economic burden of the disease.Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary effectiveness of a novel wearable vibrotactile stimulation device on resting tremor in individuals with PD.Methods: Using a randomized cross-over design, subjects received two different vibrotactile stimulation paradigms (high amplitude patterned and low amplitude continuous) on two separate laboratory visits. On each visit, resting tremor was video recorded for 10 min at baseline and while the vibrotactile stimulation was applied. Tremor severity was scored by a blinded clinician.Results: Both vibration paradigms were well safe and well tolerated and resulted in a reduction in resting tremor severity with a moderate effect size (n = 44, p &lt; 0.001, r = 0.37–0.54). There was no significant difference between the two vibration paradigms (p = 0.14).Conclusion: Short durations of vibrotactile stimulation delivered via wearable devices were safe and well tolerated and may attenuate resting tremor severity in individuals with PD. The sample size as well as the potential preliminary effectiveness revealed by two arms of the study could not eliminate the potential for a placebo effect.

Performance of Professional Soccer Players before and after COVID-19 Infection; Observational Study with an Emphasis on Graduated Return to Play

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in sport has been the subject of numerous studies over the past two years. However, knowledge about the direct impact of COVID-19 infection on the performance of athletes is limited, and the importance of studies on this topic is crucial during the current pandemic era. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the match running performance (MRP) of professional soccer players that occurred as a result of COVID-19 infection after fulfilling all of the prerequisites for a safe return to play (RTP). The participants were 47 professional soccer players from a team which competed in first Croatian division (21.6 years old on average) during the 2020/21 season. The total sample was divided into two subgroups based on the results of a PCR test for COVID-19, where 31 players tested positive (infected) and 16 tested negative. We observed the PCR test results (positive vs. negative PCR), the number of days needed to return to the team, number of days needed to RTP after quarantine and isolation, and MRP (10 variables measured by a global positioning system). The number of days where the infected players were not included in the team ranged from 7 to 51 (Median: 12). Significant pre- to post-COVID differences in MRP for infected players were only found for high-intensity accelerations and high-intensity decelerations (t-test = 2.11 and 2.13, respectively; p < 0.05, moderate effect size differences), with poorer performance in the post-COVID period. Since a decrease of the MRP as a result of COVID-19 infection was only noted in two variables, we can highlight appropriateness of the applied RTP. However, further adaptations and improvements of the RTP are needed with regard to high-intensity activities.

Improving Self-Reported Empathy and Communication Skills Through Harm in Healthcare Response Training

Objective Communication and Resolution Programs (CRP) were developed to equip healthcare organizations with tools to respond when physical and psychological harm occurs. Our objective was to assess development of empathic behaviors and communication skills through CRP training based upon the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) CANDOR toolkit to assess the ability to develop and improve empathic behaviors and communication skills. Methods The Jefferson Scale of Empathy, the CANDOR Communication Assessment Questionnaire and a self-assessment were used pre- and post-intervention to analyze development of empathy, growth of communication, and improvement in confidence and knowledge through 6 h of virtual education over a six-week course. Results Self-reported communication, confidence and knowledge improved with statistical significance and small to moderate effect size in both men and women. A statistically significant improvement of self-reported empathy scores t (22) = 2.23, p = .037; (95% CI = 0.41 to 11.5) for women only represented a small to moderate effect size (Cohen’s d = 0.46). While there was no improvement in Cognitive Complexity, (Cohen’s d = 0.065) mean pre-post .42 (SD = 6.52); Message Design Logic improved with statistical significance in paired pre-and post-assessment (Z = -3.28, p = .001). Notably, previous attendance at CANDOR classes demonstrated no impact on improvement of scores. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate improvement in self-reported empathy and communication skills through harm in healthcare response training. Healthcare organizations should carefully consider investing in CANDOR training for the benefit of patients, their families, and healthcare workforce members.

Does a Nursing Associate Programme Team Work and Leadership Module Make a Difference to Student Nursing Associate Self-reported Leadership Skills? A Mixed-methods Study

Background: Leadership is an essential element in the skills of healthcare professionals at all levels. This is true for Registered Nurses as well as Nursing Associates, who are registered professionals with a two-year foundation degree programme as role preparation. Objective: This paper reports a study examining potential gains that might accrue from leadership and team-working module in year two of the Nursing Associate Foundation Degree programme at one university in the South West of England. Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods study in the summer of 2020, with a pre- and post-module survey using the Student Leadership Inventory – Self, and a virtual focus group on the video conferencing software Zoom ™. Results: The survey results showed a statistically significant difference between Student Nurse Associates’ scores before and after the module, with a moderate effect size. The virtual focus group confirmed benefits that included growing personal confidence amongst those that attended and that they could identify leadership styles and team dynamics in practice. Conclusion: As effective leadership is associated with patient safety and quality of care, we conclude that not only has this module been effective, but also that such preparation for practice can have important real-world impacts beyond the classroom.

The acute effects of aerobic exercise on sensorimotor adaptation in chronic stroke

Background: Sensorimotor adaptation, or the capacity to adapt movement to changes in the moving body or environment, is a form of motor learning that is important for functional independence (e.g., regaining stability after slips or trips). Aerobic exercise can acutely improve many forms of motor learning in healthy adults. It is not known, however, whether acute aerobic exercise has similar positive effects on sensorimotor adaptation in stroke survivors as it does in healthy individuals. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether acute aerobic exercise promotes sensorimotor adaptation in people post stroke. Methods: A single-blinded crossover study. Participants attended two separate sessions, completing an aerobic exercise intervention in one session and a resting control condition in the other session. Sensorimotor adaptation was assessed before and after each session, as was brain derived neurotrophic factor. Twenty participants with chronic stroke completed treadmill exercise at mod-high intensity for 30 minutes. Results: Acute aerobic exercise in chronic stroke survivors significantly increased sensorimotor adaptation from pre to post treadmill intervention. The 30-minute treadmill intervention resulted in an averaged 2.99 ng/ml increase in BDNF levels (BDNF pre-treadmill = 22.31 + /–2.85 ng/ml, post-treadmill was = 25.31 + /–2.46 pg/ml; t(16) = 2.146, p = 0.048, cohen’s d = 0.521, moderate effect size). Conclusions: These results indicate a potential role for aerobic exercise to promote the recovery of sensorimotor function in chronic stroke survivors.