Evaluation of a Pilot Wellness Elective for Master of Public Health Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Graduate student wellbeing is a public health issue in the United States. The COVID-19 outbreak exacerbated the mental health burden on graduate students worldwide. Culture of Wellness (PH 104) is a 2-week wellbeing elective course that teaches evidence-based wellbeing strategies for graduate students at a university in the United States. Our study aimed to evaluate the impact of this pilot wellbeing elective on Master of Public Health students' mental health and wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Participants included 22 Master of Public Health students from the class of 2021 at a university in the United States. We provided a pre-course survey to students that assessed their perception of their own personal wellbeing, their knowledge about various wellbeing strategies, and their confidence in applying 13 wellbeing strategies before taking the course. Post-course students completed the same survey following course completion, as well as a matching evaluation and a five-month follow up survey. RESULTS: Of the 13 strategies taught, students reported significant improvements in their ability to apply 10 strategies. There was a significant increase in self-reported emotional and physical wellbeing, as well as a significant decrease in burnout. Five months post-course, more than three quarters of respondents used strategies taught in the course on a weekly basis or more. LIMITATIONS: This pilot study is limited by its small sample size, which may restrict the generalizability of the findings. CONCLUSIONS: The PH 104 Culture of Wellness course was effective in improving graduate students' wellbeing and confidence in applying wellbeing strategies.

Understanding the value of a doctorate for allied health professionals in practice in the UK: a survey.

BACKGROUND: The need to transform the United Kingdom's (UK) delivery of health and care services to better meet population needs and expectations is well-established, as is the critical importance of research and innovation to drive those transformations. Allied health professionals (AHPs) represent a significant proportion of the healthcare workforce. Developing and expanding their skills and capabilities is fundamental to delivering new ways of working. However, career opportunities combining research and practice remain limited. This study explored the perceived utility and value of a doctorate to post-doctoral AHPs and how they experience bringing their research-related capabilities into practice environments. METHODS: With a broadly interpretivist design, a qualitatively oriented cross-sectional survey, with closed and open questions, was developed to enable frequency reporting while focusing on the significance and meaning participants attributed to the topic. Participants were recruited via professional networks and communities of practice. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse closed question responses, while combined framework and thematic analysis was applied to open question responses. RESULTS: Responses were received from 71 post-doctoral AHPs located across all four UK nations. Findings are discussed under four primary themes of utilisation of the doctorate; value of the doctorate; impact on career, and impact on self and support. Reference is also made at appropriate points to descriptive statistics summarising closed question responses. CONCLUSION: The findings clearly articulate variability of experiences amongst post-doctoral AHPs. Some were able to influence team and organisational research cultures, support the development of others and drive service improvement. The challenges, barriers and obstacles encountered by others reflect those that have been acknowledged for many years. Acknowledging them is important, but the conversation must move forward and generate positive action to ensure greater consistency in harnessing the benefits and value-added these practitioners bring. If system-wide transformation is the aim, it is inefficient to leave navigating challenges to individual creativity and tenacity or forward-thinking leaders and organisations. There is an urgent need for system-wide responses to more effectively, consistently and equitably enable career pathways combining research and practice for what is a substantial proportion of the UK healthcare workforce.

Granting access: Development of a formal course to demystify and promote predoctoral fellowship applications for graduate students.

Strong scientific writing skills are the foundation of a successful research career and require training and practice. Although these skills are critical for completing a PhD, most students receive little formal writing instruction prior to joining a graduate program. In 2015, the University of Iowa Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) addressed this issue by developing the scientific writing course Grant Writing Basics (GWB). Here we describe the structure of this course and its effectiveness. GWB is an interactive, workshop-based course that uses a National Institutes of Health (NIH) F30 predoctoral fellowship proposal as a platform for building writing expertise. GWB incorporates established pedagogical principles of adult learning, including flipped classrooms, peer teaching, and reiterative evaluation. Time spent in class centers on active student analysis of previously submitted fellowship applications, discussion of writing resources, active writing, facilitated small group discussion of critiques of student writing samples, revision, and a discussion with a panel of experienced study section members and a student who completed a fellowship submission. Outcomes of GWB include a substantial increase in the number of applications submitted and fellowships awarded. Rigorous evaluation provides evidence that learning objectives were met and that students gained confidence in both their scientific writing skills and their ability to give constructive feedback. Our findings show that investment in formal training in written scientific communication provides a foundation for good writing habits, and the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this vital aspect of a scientific research career. Furthermore, they highlight that evaluation is valuable in guiding course evolution. Strategies embedded in GWB can be adapted for use in any graduate program to advance scientific writing skills among its trainees.

Examining the pedagogical practices that support cultural proficiency development in graduate health science students.

BACKGROUND: Health disparities are often a function of systemic discrimination and healthcare providers' biases. In recognition of this, health science programs have begun to offer training to foster cultural proficiency (CP) in future professionals. However, there is not yet consensus about the best ways to integrate CP into didactic and clinical education, and little is known about the role of clinical rotations in fostering CP. METHODS: Here, a mixed-methods approach was used to survey students (n = 131) from a private all-graduate level osteopathic health sciences university to gain insight into the training approaches students encountered related to CP and how these may vary as a function of academic progression. The research survey included instruments designed to quantify students' implicit associations, beliefs, and experiences related to the CP training they encountered through the use of validated instruments, including Implicit Association Tests and the Ethnocultural Empathy Inventory, and custom-designed questions. RESULTS: The data revealed that most students (73%) had received CP training during graduate school which primarily occurred via discussions, lectures, and readings; however, the duration and students' perception of the training varied substantially (e.g., training range = 1-100 hours). In addition, while students largely indicated that they valued CP and sought to provide empathetic care to their patients, they also expressed personal understandings of CP that often fell short of advocacy and addressing personal and societal biases. The results further suggested that clinical rotations may help students attenuate implicit biases but did not appear to be synergistic with pre-clinical courses in fostering other CP knowledge, skills, and attitudes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the need to utilize evidence-based pedagogical practices to design intentional, integrated, and holistic CP training throughout health science programs that employ an intersectional lens and empowers learners to serve as advocates for their patients and address systemic challenges.

A Skills Assessment Pathways-Based Program Assessment Approach in Multidisciplinary Graduate Health Informatics.

Multidisciplinary graduate education programs are hard to assess because of interdependent competencies. Students in these programs come with diverse disciplinary undergraduate degrees, and it is critical to identify knowledge gaps among these diverse learner groups to provide support to fill these gaps. Health Informatics (HI) is a multidisciplinary field in which health, technology, and social science knowledge are foundational to building HI competencies. In 2017, the American Medical Informatics Association identified ten functional domains in which HI competencies are divided. Using pre/post-semester knowledge assessment surveys of graduate students (n=60) between August 2021 to May 2022 in one of the largest graduate HI programs in the United States, we identified courses (n=9) across the curriculum that help build HI-specific competencies. Using statistical analysis, we identified three skills pathways by correlating knowledge gained with course learning objectives and used this to modify the curriculum over four semesters. These skills pathways are connected through one or two courses, where students can choose electives or, in some instances, course modules or assignments that link the skills pathways. Moreover, there is a statistically significant difference in how students gain these skills depending on their prior training, even though they take the same set of courses. Gender and other demographics did not show statistical differences in skills gained. Additionally, we found that research assistantships and internships/practicums provide additional skills not covered in our HI curriculum. Our program assessment methodology and resulting curricular changes might be relevant to HI and other multidisciplinary graduate training programs.

Relato de experiência na criação de um manual eletrônico para o ensino da avaliação cognitiva pré-escolar em terapia ocupacional / Experience report on the creation of an electronic manual for teaching preschool cognitive assessment in occupational therapy / Relato de experiencia en la creación de un manual electrónico para la enseñanza de la evaluación cognitiva preescolar en terapia ocupacional

Objetivo: Descrever o processo de criação e as etapas de elaboração de um produto educacional do tipo manual eletrônico visando contribuir com a construção de conhecimento de graduandos de terapia ocupacional e áreas afins sobre avaliação cognitiva de pré-escolares. Relato da Experiência: Trata-se de estudo do tipo relato de experiência, onde são descritas as experiências vivenciadas no período de outubro de 2021 a março de 2023 para a construção do produto educacional elaborado a partir da dissertação de Mestrado do Programa de Mestrado Profissional em Ensino em Saúde na Amazônia. Discussão: A proposta deste relato de experiência atende a uma necessidade de expor dos desafios da construção do manual para favorecer a aquisição de conhecimento dos graduandos de terapia ocupacional sobre avaliação cognitiva pré-escolar. Foram utilizadas estratégias de criação de conteúdo através de templates que culminou com uma maior uniformidade na construção dos capítulos. Conclusão: A experiência criou um manual com grande potencial para uso na aquisição de conhecimento dos graduandos, visto que, as estratégias de ensino em saúde visam a prática pedagógica direcionada e informações claras.

Objective: To describe the process of creation and the stages of elaboration of an educational product aiming to contribute to the construction of knowledge of graduates of occupational therapy and related areas on cognitive assessment of preschoolers. Experience Report: This is a descriptive study of the experience report type, where the experiences lived from October 2021 to December 2022 were described for the construction of the educational product elaborated from the Master's dissertation of the Professional Master's Program in Health Education in the Amazon. The purpose of this experience report responds to a need to expose the challenges of building the manual to favor the acquisition of knowledge by occupational therapy graduates about preschool cognitive assessment. A creation strategy was used using the inductive method through templates, which culminated in greater uniformity in the formation of chapters. Final Considerations: The experiences played an essential role in the acquisition of skills in creating content for an educational product, since health teaching strategies aim at targeted pedagogical practice and clear information.

Objetivo: Describir el proceso de creación y las etapas de elaboración de un producto educativo tipo manual electrónico con el fin de contribuir a la construcción del conocimiento de estudiantes de terapia ocupacional y áreas relacionadas sobre la evaluación cognitiva de preescolares. Relato de la Experiencia: Se trata de un estudio tipo relato de experiencia, donde se describen las vivencias durante el período de octubre de 2021 a marzo de 2023 para la creación del producto educativo, el cual se elaboró a partir de la disertación de maestría del Programa de Maestría Profesional en Enseñanza en Salud en la Amazonía. Discusión: La propuesta de este relato de experiencia responde a la necesidad de exponer los desafíos en la creación del manual para facilitar la adquisición de conocimiento de los estudiantes de terapia ocupacional sobre la evaluación cognitiva preescolar. Se utilizaron estrategias de creación de contenido mediante plantillas, lo que resultó en una mayor uniformidad en la elaboración de los capítulos. Conclusión: La experiencia ha generado un manual con un gran potencial para ser utilizado en la adquisición de conocimientos por parte de los estudiantes, ya que las estrategias de enseñanza en salud promueven la práctica pedagógica dirigida y la claridad en la información.

Insights and strategies for improving equity in graduate school admissions.

Applying to graduate school can be particularly challenging for students from historically minoritized backgrounds due to a hidden curriculum in the graduate admissions process. To address this issue, a team of volunteer STEM trainees established the Científico Latino Graduate Student Mentorship Initiative (CL-GSMI) in 2019 to support applicants from historically minoritized backgrounds. CL-GSMI is designed to improve access to critical resources, including information, mentorship, and financial support, and has assisted 443 students in applying and matriculating to graduate school. Using program evaluation data from 2020 to 2021, we highlight areas in graduate school admissions that can be improved to promote equity and inclusion.

Reflexões sobre o estágio em docência como instrumento formativo do professor universitário: um relato de experiência / Reflections on the teaching internship as a training instrument for university professor: an experience report / Reflexiones sobre la práctica docente como instrumento de formación del profesor universitario: un relato de experiencia

Introdução:A formação de professores é um processo dinâmico que deve ser composto por experiências práticas e teóricas no preparodo discente ao magistério. Desse modo, a compreensão das reflexões relativas ao estágio em docência assistida no âmbito do ensino superior é de suma importância para enriquecer os debates e discussões acerca do papel do estágio em docência como ferramenta formativa do professor universitário. Objetivo:Refletir sobreas experiências vivenciadas durante atividades desenvolvidas noestágio de docência assistidaea importância para a formação pedagógica no ensino superior. Metodologia:Trata-se de um relato de experiênciado estágio emdocência decorrido no segundo semestre de 2022, na disciplina de Fundamentos em epidemiologia e saúde pública do curso de Graduação em Fisioterapia da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte.Resultados: No presente estudo, foram descritas e analisadas as etapas da experiência do estágio em docência, enfocando as perspectivas, aprendizados e aspirações sob a ótica da literatura científica sobre o papel formativo do estágio para o professor universitário. Os resultados obtidos evidenciam a significânciadas contribuições dessa vivência para o crescimento acadêmico e profissional dos mestrandos. No entanto, salienta-se a necessidade de incorporar ou revisar elementos curriculares, visando promover uma integração mais aprofundada entre as dimensões teóricas e práticas no preparo dos alunos para a docência no ensino superior. Conclusões: O estágio de docência assistida representa uma ferramenta formativa de suma importância, singular e enriquecedora na construção das experiências profissionais e pessoais na formação de professores (AU).

Introduction: Teacher education is a dynamic process that must be composed of practical and theoretical experiences in preparing students to teach. Thus, understanding the reflections related to the internship in assisted teaching in higher education is of paramount importance to enrich the debates and discussions about the role of the internship in teaching as a training tool for university professors.Objective: To reflect on the experiences lived during activities developed in the assisted teaching internship and the importance for pedagogical training in higher education. Methodology: This is an experience report of the teaching internship that took place in the second half of 2022, in the subject of Fundamentals in epidemiology and public health of the Graduation course in Physiotherapy at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte.Results: In this study, we described and analyzed the stages of the teaching practicum experience, focusing on perspectives, learnings, and aspirations from the perspective of the scientific literature on the formative role of the teaching practicum for university professors. The obtained results highlight the significance of the contributions of this experience for the academic and professional growth of the participants. However, it is emphasized the need to incorporate or revise curriculum elements to promote a more profound integration of theoretical and practical dimensions in preparing students for teaching in higher education.Conclusions: The supervised teaching practicum represents a valuable, unique, and enriching formative tool in the development of professional and personal experiences in teacher education (AU).

Introducción: La formación docente es un proceso dinámico que debe estar compuesto de experiencias prácticas y teóricas en la preparación de los estudiantes para enseñar. Por lo tanto, comprender las reflexiones relacionadas con la pasantía en la docencia asistida en laeducación superior es de suma importancia para enriquecer los debates y discusiones sobre el papel de la pasantía en la docencia como herramienta de formación de profesores universitarios. Objetivo: Reflexionar sobre las experiencias vividas durante las actividades desarrolladas en el internado docente asistido y la importancia para la formación pedagógica en la educación superior.Metodología: Se trata de un relato de experiencia de la pasantía docente que tuvo lugar en el segundo semestre de 2022, en la asignatura de Fundamentos en epidemiología y salud pública del curso de Graduación en Fisioterapia de la Universidad Federal de Rio Grande do Norte.Resultados: En este estudio, describimos y analizamos las etapas de la experiencia de práctica docente, enfocando perspectivas, aprendizajes y aspiraciones desde la perspectiva de la literatura científica sobre el papel formativo de la práctica docente para profesoresuniversitarios. Los resultados obtenidos destacan la importancia de los aportes de esta experiencia para el crecimiento académico y profesional de los participantes. Sin embargo, se enfatiza la necesidad de incorporar o revisar elementos curriculares parapromover una integración más profunda de las dimensiones teóricas y prácticas en la preparación de los estudiantes para la docencia en la educación superior. Conclusiones: La práctica docente supervisada representa una herramienta formativa valiosa, únicay enriquecedora en el desarrollo de experiencias profesionales y personales en la formación docente (AU).

A national survey of doctoral psychology education and training in suicide risk and violence risk assessment and management.

INTRODUCTION: When, in the judgment of a mental health professional, patient suicide risk and/or patient violence risk are considered imminent, they have been referred to as behavioral emergencies. Past surveys have suggested that education and training with these emergency situations have been inadequate. The present study was undertaken to obtain more current information on the training that psychologists receive in these areas of practice. METHOD: All directors of APA-accredited graduate psychology programs and all directors of APA-accredited predoctoral psychology internship programs were asked to complete an online survey inquiring about such training provided in their programs. RESULTS: Results indicated that both sets of directors rated such doctoral training in suicide risk assessment and management as very important. Internship directors, however, were significantly more likely than graduate program directors to state that psychologists should be required to complete continuing education courses on other-directed violence risk. Serious gaps in training were identified; that is, only 59.2% of psychology graduate directors reported that their program offered training in safety planning for suicide risk and only 25.4% reported that their program offered training in safety planning for violence risk. CONCLUSION: Given that serious injury and even death can occur from patient suicidal behavior and/or a patient violent behavior, the implications of these findings are discussed.

Nationwide assessment of leadership development for graduate students in the agricultural plant sciences.

Leadership development is a universally important goal across the agricultural plant science disciplines. Although previous studies have identified a need for leadership skills, less is known about leadership skill development in graduate programs. To address this, we constructed a mixed-method study to identify the most significant graduate school leadership experiences of scientists in the agricultural plant science disciplines. The survey was deployed to 6,728 people in the U.S. and received 1,086 responses (16.1% response rate). The majority of respondents reported that they were from one of the major agricultural states and employed at one of the agricultural plant science related doctoral universities, industries, or government. Results from this survey suggest that recent graduates were more engaged in graduate school activities that offered leadership development. Key experiences in graduate school were also identified that may be used to develop future leaders. Additionally, respondents reported the greatest barrier to providing leadership development for graduate students was that it is not part of their program curriculum, however current graduate students responded differently, and identifying lack of funding to support experiences as the greatest barrier. This survey also identified the top ranked professional skills considered most important for effective leaders in agricultural plant sciences as well as respondent-driven recommendations on how graduate programs can improve leadership development. Collectively, these results can be used in the future to identify priorities for skill development and opportunities for leadership training among graduate students within the plant science disciplines.

Breaking barriers and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in trauma and acute care surgery: A current perspective.

ABSTRACT: The importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in trauma and acute care surgery (ACS) has become increasingly apparent in the field of medicine. Despite the growing diversity of the patient population, the surgical specialty has traditionally been dominated by White males. This involves increasing the representation of diverse individuals in leadership positions, professional societies, scholarships, graduate education, and practicing physicians. This opinion piece aims to address the gaps in the literature regarding DEI in trauma and acute care surgery and highlight the issues related to the workforce, gender gap, patient outcomes, and health services. To effectively guide DEI interventions, it is essential to capture patient-reported experience data and stratify outcomes by factors including race, ethnicity, ancestry, language, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Only then can generalizable findings effectively inform DEI strategies. Using validated measurement tools, it is essential to conduct these assessments with methodological rigor. Collaboration between health care institutions can also provide valuable insights into effective and ineffective intervention practices through information exchange and constructive feedback. These recommendations aim to address the multifactorial nature of health care inequities in trauma and ACS. However, successful DEI interventions require a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms driving observed disparities, necessitating further research. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V.