COMPETENCE ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPMENT FOR MANAGING HUMAN CAPITAL IN IT SECTOR

With ever-increasing demand for software professionals, time has come for the information technology (IT) industry to unearth competencies required for software professionals. The majority of IT companies have been employing outsourcing software projects to inexpensive hubs in developing nations. Therefore expectations from highly skilled software professionals are rising. The purpose of the study is to recognize the technical competence levels associated with software professionals in a range of profiles which are found in India's major IT organizations. There are three basic objectives of the present study. The first objective is to conduct a literature survey of description of the software engineers in IT domain. The second objective is to quantify the competency levels of the software engineers in IT sector. Finally, the third objective is to conduct a survey-based empirical study on software engineers. The professional occupation is set up through seven successive profiles.

Walking Engagement in Mexican Americans Who Participated in a Community-Wide Step Challenge in El Paso, TX

In the United States, the Latinx population has the highest prevalence of physical inactivity compared with other ethnicities. Research shows that work-based physical activity interventions have been widely implemented in the non-Latinx population and effectively increase physical activity in the non-Latinx population. In an effort to improve physical activity and reduce obesity among the Latinx population, we conducted 10,000 Steps for 100 Days, an employer-based walking challenge campaign, to increase walking engagement among Latinx employees located in El Paso, Texas. Participants reported their number of steps using a pedometer or smartphone. Step counts were collected at baseline, 2 weeks post challenge, and 6 months post challenge. Screenshots of the tracking device were uploaded to an online tracker. Regression analysis was conducted to identify covariates associated with baseline and 2-week and 6-month average daily steps. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were performed to predict steps over time by demographic characteristics. Participation in the 10,000 Steps for 100 Days walking challenge was associated with a sustained increase in average daily steps. Participants with less than 7000 steps per day demonstrated the greatest increase in average daily steps (921 steps at 2 weeks; 1002.4 steps at 6 months). Demographic characteristics were not significant predictors of average steps, except that married participants had higher average steps. Participants with 10,000 or more daily steps had a 51% (p = 0.031) higher chance of having a professional occupation than a non-professional one compared to those with 7000 or fewer daily steps. We provided initial evidence that the walking challenge is an effective approach for improving physical activity in the Latinx population.

Examining gender differentials and determinants of private health insurance coverage in Zambia

Background Health insurance is an essential aspect of healthcare. This is because it enables the insured to acquire timely and essential healthcare services, besides offering financial protection from catastrophic treatment costs. This paper seeks to establish gender differentials and determinants of health insurance coverage in Zambia. Methods The data used in this study was obtained from the 2018 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey. Data were analyzed using STATA 13.0 software and focused on descriptive and Probit regression analyses. Results The study reveals that for women and men, age, wealth category, education, and professional occupation are positively associated with health insurance while being self-employed in the agricultural sector negatively influences health insurance coverage for both sexes. Other variables have gender-specific effects. For instance, being in marital union and having a clerical occupation increases the probability of having health insurance for women while being in the services, skilled, and unskilled manual occupations increases the probability of having health insurance for men. Further, residing in rural areas reduces the probability of having health insurance for men. Conclusion The study concludes that there are differences in factors that influence health insurance between women and men. Hence, this study highlights the need to enhance health insurance coverage by addressing the different factors that influence health insurance coverage among men and women. These factors include enhancing education, job creation, diversifying insurance schemes, and gender consideration in the design of National Health Insurance Scheme.

Menstrual knowledge and perceptions of schoolgirls in Bangladesh: do socio-economic factors really matter?

Purpose This study aims to explore whether socio-economic factors determine the level of menstrual knowledge and perceptions of schoolgirls in Bangladesh. The aim of this study is to understand how knowledge and perceptions vary with variations in the different socio-economic factors in a schoolgirl’s life such as place of residence, religion, age, grade, parents’ education, parents’ occupation, family income and even family size. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from four schools (two in urban areas and two in rural areas). A total of 450 schoolgirls from grades V–X were interviewed to examine how knowledge and perceptions varied with different socio-economic aspects. Multiple logistic regression models were used to measure the associations between various socio-economic variables and perceptions of and knowledge about menstruation. Findings Respondents from urban areas were 4.75 times more likely and those 14–16 years old were two times more likely to report higher levels of knowledge about menstruation compared to their counterparts. Based on the father’s occupation, respondents whose father was engaged in a professional occupation were 1.983 times more likely to have a higher level of knowledge on menstruation compared to those whose fathers were in an unskilled profession. Similarly, the odds of positive perceptions on menstruation were 1.456 and 1.987 times higher, respectively, among respondents living in urban areas and those 14–16 years old, compared to their counterparts. Originality/value This study provides evidence that different socio-economic and even demographic factors are important in the development of menstrual knowledge and perceptions. Policy formulation and development actions related to adolescent girls’ physical and reproductive health development need to consider these factors in Bangladesh and in other developing countries, where poor knowledge and perception related to menstruation are hindering girls’ mental and physical development. This is expected that better knowledge and perception will facilitate girls’ right to have better health and social lives.

Emotional burnout of police officers: phenomenology and prevention

Currently, police work is considered a stressful professional occupation that requires police officers to be able to cope with danger, uncertainty and unpredictability, which, together with other factors, determines the development of emotional burnout syndrome in police officers. The article presents a phenomenological analysis of the scientific positions of domestic and foreign authors, which allowed us to establish the characteristic manifestations of emotional burnout and establish the consistency of views on this phenomenon within the framework of three main directions: individual psychological, socio-psychological and organizational-psychological. The purpose of the study was to update and bring together views on a significant problem, the solution of which provides the subject of the law enforcement sphere with the preservation of working capacity, well-being, and psychological health. As a result of the conducted research, groups of factors of personal, organizational, role and motivational genesis that affect the development of emotional burnout are established. The features of emotional burnout of police officers are revealed, which are manifested in the reduction of the performance of official duties due to irrational or reduced emotional expression, a sense of dissatisfaction with oneself, personal alienation, depression, emotional lability, irritability, neuroticism with a tendency to spontaneous and reactive aggression. The protective and coping behavior of police officers is associated with the predominance of non-constructive coping of the antisocial, passive and manipulative type, as well as the priority use of the "regression"mechanism of psychological protection. On the basis of the conducted research, the directions of psychological prevention of emotional burnout of police officers are determined

A community-based drop-in service for NHS health checks: evaluation of uptake

Background: A community-based drop-in service aimed to deliver cardiovascular health checks to people living in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation. Methods: Retrospective cohort study using data collected from 1092 cardiovascular health checks performed across a one-year time period in community venues across the city of Manchester. Participants were adults aged between 40–74 years, with no pre-existing cardiovascular disease who were registered with a primary care centre within the intervention catchment area.Results: Of the total eligible population in Manchester across the study period 110194, it was found 7025(6.4%) had a cardiovascular health check, of these 1092(29%) were performed by the community-based service. Attendance was highest in younger females aged 40-45. Most patients were either in a managerial/professional occupation or unemployed. The higher risk population of cardiovascular disease (CVD were in highest attendance. Amongst the registered attendees, the checks discovered 129 new cases of hypertension, 64 new cases of type 2 diabetes, the vast majority of patients required an additional form of intervention, be that lifestyle or behaviour. Conclusions: A community-based cardiovascular check service is a viable method of delivering CD prevention intervention in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation.

Burnout profiles among French workers in health units for inmates: results of the EHCAU study

Background Health care personnel who work in penitentiary environments are at risk of burnout due to a variety of factors. Latest research have brought forward a classification system consisting of five burnout profiles on a continuum between engagement and burnout. The objective of this study was to measure the prevalence of these profiles among professionals working in French health units providing health services for inmates according to the three levels of care and to investigate their characteristics to propose appropriate management and prevention approaches. Methods This study involved a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Evaluation of Health CAre in Units for inmates (EHCAU) study, a multicentric cohort study of professionals practising in health units for inmates in eastern France. Burnout was assessed by the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) at the levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment. Job conditions and characteristics were measured using the Karasek Job Content Questionnaire and the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and self-reported health status were also collected. Differences between MBI profiles were identified using Fisher’s exact test and the Wilcoxon test. Results Of the 350 professionals surveyed, 150 responded (42.9%). The most frequent profiles were ineffective (36.9%) and engagement (34.8%). The burnout (7.8%), overextended (15.6%) and disengaged (5.0%) profiles made up the remaining quarter. Significant differences in the burnout profiles were observed in regard to professional occupation (p = 0.01), irregular eating hours (p = 0.04), history of complaint procedures (p = 0.05), anxiety (p < 0.0001), depression (p < 0.0001) and the mental component of self-reported quality of life (p < 0.0001). Conclusions These results confirm that special attention should be given to professionals working in these challenging settings. The results have important implications for theory and research and for more customized approach interventions. Trial registration ID RCB: 2018-A03029–46.

The COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain: Experiences of Midwives on the Healthcare Frontline

Background: Midwives look after women during pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium. In Spain, the first wave of COVID was particularly virulent. There are few studies about the experiences of midwives providing care during the COVID pandemic and very few have been undertaken in the countries of southern Europe such as Spain. This article sets out to take a more in-depth look at the experiences of midwives who were on the frontline of care during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to identify new needs and resilience strategies that can help midwives. Methods: A qualitative methodology of phenomenological tradition was used, interviewing 10 midwives from primary care, hospital and independent care. Results: After content analysis, three central categories emerged: (a) cascade of emotions; (b) professional occupation and concern for the women; (c) resisting the day-to-day; resilience and resistance strategies. Conclusions: Despite the difficulties, midwives are concerned about the loss of rights and autonomy and about the increased vulnerability of women. Midwives have become aware of the power they have in their actions both in health management and administration, as well as in the care of women, creating strategies to provide dignified care to their users.

Engagement e Burnout na docência no ensino superior na área da saúde: revisão integrativa

Teaching in higher education in the health field fits as a professional category intensely exposed to psychosocial stressors. Therefore, the factors linked to engagement and the Burnout Syndrome are constructs that permeate teaching. OBJECTIVE: to investigate the scientific literature on engagement and Burnout Syndrome in teaching in higher education in the health area. The search for studies was carried out in BVS, Web of Science and Science Direct databases; once the inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, 6 articles resulted. RESULTS: According to the year of publication, 33.3% of the articles were developed in 2017, 33% in 2013 followed by 17% in 2012 and 2011 respectively; when it comes to the results of the selected works, as for BS, the variables age, sex, marital status and teacher extension activities are more frequently; in order for there to be prevention of BS, it is necessary to provide a healthy work environment, where the amplification of policies, procedures and systems designed must be observed, in order to make employees capable of achieving organizational objectives and, concomitantly, achieve satisfaction in their professional occupation. CONCLUSION: Thus, it is concluded that from adequate work environments, incentives for teacher development, healthy labor relations, a favorable structure for teaching practice, and favoring the physical, mental and psychological health of these professionals, the institutions will perceive positive results in the process of teaching and learning.

Canadian Association of Neuropathologists Workforce Survey, 2019

To characterize the professional occupation of Canadian neuropathologists and estimate the future employment demands in neuropathologists, all the active members of the Canadian Association of Neuropathologists in Canada (n=53) were surveyed by E-mail, inquiring as to their estimated date of retirement, their current employment and practice profile, and as to any practice trends they had noticed. 49 members replied: all but one practice at medical school centers. 38 practice exclusively in neuropathology and three of these are employed at less than 75% of a full time equivalent. The remaining practices are mixed neuropathology and anatomical pathology, and one practices exclusively ophthalmic pathology. 35% reported significant neuropathology sub specialization (e.g. forensic, pediatric, neuromuscular). 42% reported greater than 10% of time dedicated to research (of these, median 30%) and 35% greater than 10% time spent in teaching, and 9% greater than 10% time in administration. Of the 49 surveyed, as of the spring of 2019, 14%(seven) of the full time neuropathologists can be expected to retire in the next 10 years, and 6% (three) with mixed AP/NP practices.LEARNING OBJECTIVESThis presentation will enable the learner to: 1.Understand the current spectrum of practice of Neuropathologists across Canada2.Describe the patterns of employment and anticipated retirements of Canadian Neuropathologists