Research on Small Group Writing Activities Compared to Individual Flipped Model Through Whatsapp

Purpose: Investigate the ability of EFL learners’cohesion with small group writing activities compared to individual flipped instruction model through Whatsapp with individual writing activities Design/Method: A quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent control group and a pre-test/post-test design was implemented to find any significant difference between the two combinations. The instrument of this study was a writing test. Findings: The findings revealed that the small group flipped classroom instruction model through Whatsapp with small group writing activities performed better than teaching cohesion with individual flipped instruction through Whatsapp with individual writing activities. Originality: Flipped classroom innovation has attracted English Language Teaching researchers’ attention to scrutinize its effectiveness.

The Effects of Relaxing Music on Life Distress and Maternal-fetal Attachment in Pregnant Women

Background: Although pregnancy and motherhood are enjoyable experiences, they are associated with numerous biopsychological changes requiring adaptation. The present study aimed to assess the effects of relaxing music on life distress and Maternal-Fetal Attachment (MFA) in pregnant women. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test, post-test and a control group design. The research population included all Iranian pregnant women referring to Laleh Hospital in Tehran City, Iran, in 2020. In total, 30 women were selected using the convenience sampling method and randomly assigned into the intervention and control groups (n=15/group). The required data were collected using the Life Distress Inventory (LDI) and the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (MFAS). The intervention group listened to relaxing music for twelve 45-50-minute sessions in the morning and during routine midwifery visits; however, the controls received no intervention. The collected data were analyzed using Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) in SPSS V. 22. Results: The obtained results indicated that the intervention group reported a lower level of life distress in the post-test, compared to the controls (P=0.0001, F=15.860). The intervention group also achieved a higher mean score on MFA, than the control group (P=0.0001, F=35.872). Conclusion: According to the present research findings, reproductive health, nursing professionals, and psychologists could recommend music as a complementary therapy to reduce stress and distress experienced by expecting mothers and to improve MFA.

Research on Small Group Writing Activities Compared to Individual Flipped Model Through WhatsApp

Purpose: Investigate the ability of EFL learners’cohesion with small group writing activities compared to individual flipped instruction model through Whatsapp with individual writing activities Design/Method: A quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent control group and a pre-test/post-test design was implemented to find any significant difference between the two combinations. The instrument of this study was a writing test. Findings: The findings revealed that the small group flipped classroom instruction model through Whatsapp with small group writing activities performed better than teaching cohesion with individual flipped instruction through Whatsapp with individual writing activities. Originality: Flipped classroom innovation has attracted English Language Teaching researchers’ attention to scrutinize its effectiveness.

Level of knowledge regarding COVID-19 health protocols in the tourism sector in Taro village before and after counseling

Introduction: Taro village has a higher risk of gathering the people since it is one of the most popular tourism sectors in Bali hence increasing the potential to spread coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The level of knowledge plays an important role in determining whether the society is ready to implement the health protocols or not. This community service aims to evaluate the level of knowledge regarding COVID-19 health protocols in the tourism sector in the Taro village. Method: This research was conducted using a quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design in Taro village, Bali. Respondents filled out the questionnaire before and after counseling. The questionnaire consisted of 10 items of knowledge. The participants were Taro’s residents who met inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 31 respondents were taken. The data were tested for normality with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and analyzed with paired T-test using the IBM SPSS statistics version 25. Significance was determined at a 5% level (P-value ≤0.05). Results: A total of 31 valid filled-questionnaires were collected. In general, Taro’s residents’ knowledge regarding COVID-19 health protocol in the tourism sector was sufficient, but some topics are still insufficient. The mean score before counseling was 79,03 ± 1,340 while the mean score after counseling was 86,13 ± 1,366. There was a significant difference (p<0,05) on level of knowledge (p=0,000) before and after counseling. Conclusion: There was a significant difference in the level of knowledge of Taro village’s residents toward COVID-19 health protocols in the tourism sector before and after counseling.

The effectiveness of writing techniques in improving students’ writing ability with different self-esteem

Identifying appropriate writing techniques to help students with different self-esteem improve their writing ability needs to be considered by educators. This study attempted to examine the effectiveness of two writing techniques, Reflective Learning Portfolio (RLP) and Dialogue Journal Writing (DJW) in improving the writing ability of undergraduate students with different self-esteem. A quasi-experimental design was employed in this study. The participants of the study were 62 undergraduate students from a private university in West Java, Indonesia, which were divided into two groups that received different treatments, RLP and DJW techniques. A set of questionnaires to measure students’ self-esteem and writing tests were utilized to collect the data. Data from questionnaires were analyzed by using Likert Scales. Data from pre-test and post-test, to know the effectiveness of RLP and DJW was administered by using a paired t-test. The finding revealed that the writing performance in RLP class was significantly better than in DJW class. In other words, RLP is more effective in teaching writing to students with different self-esteem. The use of explicit teaching, peer feedback, and teacher feedback in RLP class could have caused the RLP technique to be more effective in improving the students’ writing ability compared to the DJW technique.

Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Integrated Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy in Motivational Structure of Hepatitis B Patients

Background: It is essential to understand and support hepatitis B patients to minimize their challenges and limitations and provide them with appropriate treatment. Therefore, it is essential to incorporate training and consulting programs to prepare for and identify various aspects of the disease. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-integrated cognitive-behavioral group therapy (MiCBT) in the motivational structure of hepatitis B patients in Tehran, Iran. Methods: This quasi-experimental study utilized a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The study sample consisted of 28 hepatitis B patients selected from all patients visiting specialist clinics in Tehran in 2020. Following the interviews and completion of the Personal Concerns Inventory, 14 patients were selected per group using simple random sampling and were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. A posttest was conducted after 12 sessions of MiCBT (one 90-min group session weekly for three months). Data were analyzed using the multivariate analysis of covariance in SPSS software. Results: The results revealed a significant increase in adaptive motivational structure (P < 0.001) and a significant decrease in maladaptive motivational structure (P = 0.012) in hepatitis B patients following the therapeutic intervention. Conclusions: The study indicated the MiCBT effectiveness in increasing adaptive motivational structure and decreasing maladaptive motivational structure in hepatitis B patients. As a therapeutic approach, MiCBT can make the motivational structure of hepatitis B patients more adaptive.

Fostering Students’ Retention in Photosynthesis Using Concept Mapping and Cooperative Mastery Learning Instructional Strategies

<p style="text-align: justify;">The performance in biology at the secondary level has not been as good as expected. This has been a matter of concern. Thus, there has been a continuous focus on exploring newer innovative learner-centered and friendly instructional strategies to enhance understanding and retention in biology. This study, therefore, determined the effects of Concept Mapping (CM) and Cooperative Mastery Learning (CML) on fostering retention in photosynthesis among secondary schools in Nyamagabe district, Rwanda. A pre-test and post-test non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design was used. Data were obtained from 151 students taught with CM, 144 students taught with CML, and 154 students taught with Conventional Teaching Methods (CTM). The Photosynthesis Retention Test (KR-21= 0.82) was used for data collection. The data were mainly analyze d using mean and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The results showed that the CM and CML treatment groups outperformed the CTM group in retention in photosynthesis. There was a statistically significant difference in favor of the CM between the two experimental groups. The male and female students taught using CM retained equally in photosynthesis while gender difference was revealed in the mean retention scores of the students exposed to the CML, with females retained significantly higher than males. The study concluded that the CM and CML strategies were more effective than CTM. It was suggested, among other things, that teachers should be encouraged to apply CM and CML strategies when teaching biology.</p>

Benefits of breast milk for prevention of sore nipple & association with their demographic variables: A quasi-experimental study

A newborn baby has only three demands. They are warmth in the arms of his mother, food from her breasts and security in the knowledge of her presence. Breastfeeding satisfies all three. While breastfeeding may not seem the right choice for every parent, it is the choice for every baby because it fulfills the physical needs as well as psychotic complementary of the child. The study aimedto find out the association of nipple soreness in experimental group and comparison group in terms of sample characteristics of postnatal mothers. A quasi experimental study was conducted on 70 postnatal mothers, (35 in experimental group and 35 in the comparison group) who breast feeds their babies were selected conveniently. Feeding pattern was assessed by LATCH scale four times in a day followed by the application of hind milk minimum four times in a day for three or four days as per discharge day of mother. The mother was asked to rub hind milk on nipples after feeding the baby and letting it air dry in front of researcher and nipple soreness scale was used to check the sore nipple at third and fifth day or at the day of discharge. Follow up of postnatal mothers was done telephonically by using interview questionnaire on day 15 in both groups. Study findings revealed that on 3rd day, the mean nipple soreness score was higher in comparison group (1.45) than experimental group (0.10) and thus there was significant difference (t value = 3.87) in nipple soreness score.Study concluded that breast milk application was effective in preventing sore nipples among postnatal mothers. Hence, it can be recommended to use breast milk for the prevention of sore nipple.

Comparison of structured interactive lecture (SIL) and flipped classroom method (FCM) in learning ophthalmology topics among undergraduate medical students

Structured interactive lectures (SIL) and Flipped classroom methods (FCM) are newer teaching learning methods which utilise pedagogical way of teaching. This study intends to compare efficacy of both methods in the understanding of ophthalmology topics among undergraduate novice. To compare the effectiveness in learning, conduct of classes and perception of students regarding both methods.: Quasi experimental study. Duration – 6 months. Population- 6 sem students, sample size – 45 in each group. Three topics selected (of varying complexities) and taught by SIL and FCM method. Pretest and posttest were conducted to assess the knowledge acquired. Feedback regarding the conduct of both sessions were taken in Likert’s scale. Perception comparing both techniques were also evaluated. Difference between pretest scores were not significant. Difference between pretest and posttest scores were significant. SIL is better than FCM for undergraduate students posted for the first time in ophthalmology department. The students were enthusiastic with both methods. FCM was prefered by the students for motivation, subject retention, topic simplification and subject interest. The students narratives are discussed. Structured interactive lectures are better for improving knowledge. Flipped classrooms kept students active. A hybrid method maybe more effective. Long term followup is needed to evaluate recall and performance in exams.

Effect of nutritional education on anthropometric deficits among pre-school aged children in south West Ethiopia: quasi-experimental study

Background Under-nutrition is a global problem and one of the most serious public health issues. Globally, 156 million under-five children were stunted, and 50 million were wasted in 2016. Malnutrition among preschool-age children is caused by low socioeconomic status, food insecurity, poor feeding practices, and infectious diseases. This intervention aimed to evaluate the effect of nutrition education delivered through trained health professionals in improving the nutritional status of preschool -aged children. Methods A quasi-experimental design among 588 preschool –aged children was used. A multistage sampling technique followed by a systematic random sampling technique was used to identify caregivers with preschool-aged children. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data. The baseline difference in demographic and socioeconomic characteristics between the two groups was examined using a chi-square test and an independent sample t-test was used to determine the mean difference in under-nutrition between the intervention and control groups. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to determine the change in the difference in outcome between the intervention and control groups as well as the association of predictors with under-nutrition in children. The Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals was reported to show the strength of the association. Variables with a p-value of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant in multivariable analysis. Results In this study, the nutritional status of preschool age children was significantly associated with nutrition education intervention [AOR = 0.566, 95% CI: (0.347, 0.923)], place of delivery [AOR = 0.724, 95% CI: (0.551, 0.951)], ARI in the last 2 weeks [AOR = 1.823, 95% CI: (1.226, 2.710)], source of drinking water [AOR = 0.624, 95% CI: (0.484, 0.805)] and household food security [AOR = 1.311, 95% CI: (1.030, 1.669)] . Conclusions Findings of this study showed that nutrition education can effectively reduce the magnitude of under-nutrition among preschool children. Under-nutrition was e significantly associated with nutritional education, place of delivery, ARI in the last 2 weeks, source of drinking water, and food security. Therefore, both government and non-government should consider the impacts of nutrition education to alleviate under-nutrition and improve the health status of preschool-age children.