How to Develop an Online Video for Teaching Health Procedural Skills: Tutorial for Health Educators New to Video Production.

BACKGROUND: Clinician educators are experts in procedural skills that students need to learn. Some clinician educators are interested in creating their own procedural videos but are typically not experts in video production, and there is limited information on this topic in the clinical education literature. Therefore, we present a tutorial for clinician educators to develop a procedural video. OBJECTIVE: We describe the steps needed to develop a medical procedural video from the perspective of a clinician educator new to creating videos, informed by best practices as evidenced by the literature. We also produce a checklist of elements that ensure a quality video. Finally, we identify the barriers and facilitators to making such a video. METHODS: We used the example of processing a piece of skeletal muscle in a pathology laboratory to make a video. We developed the video by dividing it into 3 phases: preproduction, production, and postproduction. After writing the learning outcomes, we created a storyboard and script, which were validated by subject matter and audiovisual experts. Photos and videos were captured on a digital camera mounted on a monopod. Video editing software was used to sequence the video clips and photos, insert text and audio narration, and generate closed captions. The finished video was uploaded to YouTube (Google) and then inserted into open-source authoring software to enable an interactive quiz. RESULTS: The final video was 4 minutes and 4 seconds long and took 70 hours to create. The final video included audio narration, closed captioning, bookmarks, and an interactive quiz. We identified that an effective video has six key factors: (1) clear learning outcomes, (2) being engaging, (3) being learner-centric, (4) incorporating principles of multimedia learning, (5) incorporating adult learning theories, and (6) being of high audiovisual quality. To ensure educational quality, we developed a checklist of elements that educators can use to develop a video. One of the barriers to creating procedural videos for a clinician educator who is new to making videos is the significant time commitment to build videography and editing skills. The facilitators for developing an online video include creating a community of practice and repeated skill-building rehearsals using simulations. CONCLUSIONS: We outlined the steps in procedural video production and developed a checklist of quality elements. These steps and the checklist can guide a clinician educator in creating a quality video while recognizing the time, technical, and cognitive requirements.

The core competencies of a health education teacher.

Teachers play a crucial role in students' learning and in the development of health literacy. Hence, the aim of this study was to identify the core competencies needed for teachers of health education in supporting student learning. A three-round Delphi study was carried out over an 8-week period, through consultation with 25 Finnish experts in health education. An open-ended question was used to identify the core competencies for school health educators. The data were analysed using inductive content analysis. In subsequent rounds, experts were asked to assess the importance of the identified competencies on a 7-point Likert scale, and finally to rank the most important competencies. In total, 52 competencies were identified and categorized into eight core competence domains. Thereafter, 40 competencies were assessed and selected for the third round, in which the experts ranked the 15 most important competencies, encompassing four core domains, i.e. pedagogic and subject-specific didactic, social and emotional, content knowledge and continuous professional development. Other domains of competence identified in the present study were ethical competence, competence in school health promotion, contextual competence and professional well-being competence. The study defines health education teacher core competencies and domains, and the information can be used in teacher education programmes, for developing teaching and for teachers' self-evaluation.

[Development of the capacity to communicate risks related to childhood exposure to fluorides through an online educational strategy]. / Desarrollo de la capacidad de comunicar riesgos relacionados con la exposición infantil a fluoruros, a través de una estrategia educativa en línea.

Fluorides are contaminants that occur frequently and, generally, naturally in groundwater, affecting countries that depend on these waters for irrigation and human consumption. Chronic exposure to fluorides generates various health effects; therefore, this research was based on education and risk communication to contribute to the resolution of the problem of fluoride exposure in the population. The objective was to develop the capacity to design risk communication programs for personnel involved in the response and management of environmental health risks, with emphasis on fluoride exposure. An online pilot training course on risk communication and fluoride exposure was designed and implemented. For the analysis of the risk perception and knowledge of the participants, before and after the course, a questionnaire was applied and a focus group was conducted. In addition, the participants carried out a series of activities and designed a risk communication program to assess the degree to which the capacity to develop risk communication programs was achieved. To improve the pilot course, two satisfaction surveys were designed and implemented, and a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis was conducted. The results showed an increase in the level of knowledge and changes in the participants' perception; regarding the ability to design risk communication programs, two participants were able to design them excellently. Previous experience, motivation, commitment to learn and the feedback provided during the course influenced the development of this ability.

Los fluoruros son contaminantes presentes con frecuencia y generalmente de forma natural en aguas subterráneas, y afectan a países que dependen de estas aguas para el riego y el consumo humano. La exposición crónica a fluoruros genera diversos efectos a la salud; por lo anterior, esta investigación se basó en la educación y la comunicación de riesgos para contribuir a la resolución del problema de exposición a fluoruros en la población. El objetivo fue desarrollar la capacidad de diseñar programas de comunicación de riesgos del personal involucrado en la respuesta y manejo de los riesgos ambientales para la salud, con énfasis en la exposición a fluoruros. Se diseñó e implementó un curso piloto de formación en línea sobre comunicación de riesgos y exposición a fluoruros. Para el análisis de la percepción de riesgos y conocimientos de los participantes, antes y después del curso, se aplicó un cuestionario y se llevó a cabo un grupo focal. Además, los asistentes realizaron una serie de actividades y diseñaron un programa de comunicación de riesgos con el que se valoró el grado en que se alcanzó la capacidad de desarrollar programas de comunicación de riesgos. Para mejorar el curso piloto se diseñaron y aplicaron dos encuestas de satisfacción y se realizó un análisis FODA (Fortalezas, Oportunidades, Debilidades, Amenazas). Los resultados mostraron un incremento en el nivel de conocimientos y cambios en la percepción de los participantes; en cuanto a la capacidad de diseñar programas de comunicación de riesgos, dos participantes lograron diseñarlo de manera excelente. La experiencia previa, la motivación, el compromiso para aprender y la retroalimentación brindada durante el curso, influyeron en el desarrollo de esta capacidad.

Os fluoretos são contaminantes que ocorrem com frequência e, geralmente, de forma natural nas águas subterrâneas, afetando os países que dependem dessas águas para irrigação e consumo humano. A exposição crônica aos fluoretos gera vários efeitos à saúde; portanto, esta pesquisa baseou-se na educação e na comunicação de riscos para contribuir com a solução do problema da exposição ao fluoreto na população. O objetivo foi desenvolver a capacidade de elaborar programas de comunicação de risco para o pessoal envolvido na resposta e no gerenciamento de riscos ambientais à saúde, com ênfase na exposição à fluoretos. Foi elaborado e implementado um curso piloto de treinamento online sobre comunicação de riscos e exposição. Para a análise da percepção de risco e do conhecimento dos participantes antes e depois do curso, foi aplicado um questionário e aplicado um grupo de foco. Além disso, os participantes realizaram uma série de atividades e elaboraram um programa de comunicação de riscos para avaliar até que ponto a capacidade de desenvolver programas de comunicação de riscos foi alcançada. Para aprimorar o curso piloto, foram duas pesquisas de satisfação foram desenvolvidas e implementadas e uma análise FOFA (Forças, Oportunidades, Fraquezas e Ameaças) foi aplicada. Os resultados mostraram um aumento no nível de conhecimento e mudanças nas percepções dos participantes; em termos da capacidade de elaborar programas de comunicação de riscos, dois participantes conseguiram elaborar excelentes programas de comunicação de riscos. A experiência prévia, a motivação, o compromisso com o aprendizado e o feedback fornecido durante o curso influenciaram o desenvolvimento dessa capacidade.

Virtual Program Delivery: Learning Through Extension Nutrition Educators' Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and analyze how Extension nutrition educators in one state system transitioned from primarily face-to-face to virtual nutrition education programming. DESIGN: This exploratory case study gathered data through nutrition educator interviews, virtual program delivery guides, and nutrition educators' program impact statements. SETTING: Southeastern State Extension system in late 2022. PARTICIPANTS: The sample included 15 participant interviews, multiple virtual program delivery guides, and 43 program impact summaries. PHENOMENON OF INTEREST: The use of Cultural Historical Activity Theory as a framework to explore educators' learning process with virtual program delivery and how this learning influenced community nutrition program delivery choices. ANALYSIS: Qualitative data was analyzed with ATLAS.ti using a priori coding. RESULTS: Two key findings emerged from the data: educators were more likely to deliver programs in a virtual setting when the programs aligned with their values and skills, and educators preferred flexible program curricula and delivery guides because it allowed them to address their community's specific needs. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Educators plan to continue to deliver certain community nutrition programs virtually. Future research is needed to explore additional perspectives on virtual delivery, such as program participants and state program managers.

Empowering adult patients with diabetes for health educators' role within their family members: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Patient engagement as partners in diabetes prevention for family members/close relatives is a novel and underexplored approach. This paper aims to assess patients' willingness and confidence in their ability to succeed as health educators for their family members and investigate the influencing factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between January 2023 and April 2023. A newly developed and validated self-reported questionnaire, based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) and previous research, was administered to a convenient sample of 134 adult participants diagnosed with diabetes. These participants sought care at primary healthcare clinics at King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs in Riyadh and Jeddah (MNGHA). The data was examined using statistical methods including descriptive analysis, ANOVA, Tukey's HSD (Honestly Significant Difference) Post Hoc tests, and Pearson's correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The majority of participants expressed a willingness to assume the role of health educators for their family members (n = 117, 87.31%) and reported a high level of willingness and confidence, as indicated by self-efficacy scores ranging from 12.00 to 25.00, with a mean of 21.12 (SD = 2.76). Participants' willingness to be health educators exhibited positive correlations with their perceptions of diabetes severity and susceptibility (r = .433, p < .01), perceived benefits and barriers (r = .451, p < .01), cues to action (r = .520, p < .01), self-efficacy (r = .789, p < .01), and the total score of the questionnaire (r = .640, p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of participants expressed their willingness to assume the role of health educators for their family members, and a significant portion reported confidence in their capacity to accomplish this objective. Healthcare providers should emphasize the importance of equipping patients with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively convey health messages and serve as health educators within their communities. This expansion of the approach holds the potential to have a significant impact on public health strategies for diabetes prevention.

Aspiring to Disability Consciousness in Health Professions Training.

Lack of disability-competent health care contributes to inequitable health outcomes for the largest minoritized population in the world: persons with disabilities. Health care professionals hold implicit and explicit bias against disabled people and report receiving inadequate disability training. While disability competence establishes a baseline standard of care, health professional educators must prepare a disability conscious workforce by challenging ableist assumptions and promoting holistic understanding of persons with disabilities. Future clinicians must recognize disability as an aspect of diversity, express respect for disabled patients, and demonstrate flexibility about how to care for disabled patients' needs. These skills are currently undervalued in medical training, specifically. This article describes how integrating disability consciousness into health professions training can improve health equity for patients with disabilities.

Estresse e enfrentamento das dificuldades em universitários da área da saúde / Stress and coping with difficulties in health university students / Estrés y enfrentamiento de dificultades por universitarios del sector salud

Este estudo pretende identificar a percepção de estudantes de uma mesma instituição de ensino superior da área da saúde sobre dificuldades acadêmicas e não acadêmicas, estratégias de coping e identificar a presença de estresse. Foi um estudo transversal utilizando abordagens quantitativa e qualitativa, desenvolvido por meio de questionário estruturado e inventários psicométricos validados ( COPE Breve; inventário de sintomas de estresse ISLL ). Adicionalmente, foram realizadas entrevistas para ampliar a compreensão dos resultados dos instrumentos quantitativos. Na etapa quantitativa, participaram 162 estudantes dos cursos de graduação em Fisioterapia, Fonoaudiologia, Medicina, Nutrição e Terapia Ocupacional. Destes, 60 participaram de entrevista qualitativa. Os dados foram submetidos à análise estatística univariada e análise multivariada por regressão logística. Os estudantes relataram encontrar grande número de dificuldades e utilizar variadas estratégias de coping . A análise estatística univariada demonstrou que não houve diferenças importantes entre cursos e etapas quanto ao número de dificuldades e estratégias utilizadas. A presença de estresse foi identificada em proporções entre 45% e 100% dos estudantes, conforme o curso e a etapa considerada, sem diferenças significativas entre eles. A análise multivariada identificou cinco variáveis independentes como determinantes de estresse: sexo feminino, renda familiar, número de dificuldades acadêmicas/não acadêmicas e número de estratégias de coping voltadas à "emoção" presentes. Esta análise também mostrou que o estresse patológico está relacionado a somente uma variável: o número de dificuldades não acadêmicas. Estes achados reforçam a necessidade de manter ações institucionais de assistência social e apoio psicológico, favorecendo assim um planejamento efetivo de medidas de promoção da saúde mental dos estudantes.(AU)

This study aimed to find undergraduate students' perceptions about academic and non-academic difficulties and coping strategies and determining the occurrence of stress among them. This was a cross-sectional study using quantitative and qualitative approaches to evaluate students from different health professions in a single institution. Physical therapy, speech therapy, medicine, nutrition, and occupational therapy program students (N=162) answered a structured questionnaire and two validated psychometric inventories (COPE Brief scale and the ISS stress symptoms inventory). Additionally, 60 students underwent a semi-structured interview to better understand the results from the quantitative instruments. Quantitative data underwent univariate analysis to test differences between proportions and stepwise multiple regression analysis to identify the independent determinants of stress. Students reported a large number of academic and non-academic difficulties and a variety of coping strategies. Univariate statistical analysis showed no significant differences between courses and stages regarding the number of difficulties and coping strategies. A large proportion of students showed stress, ranging from 45% to 100%, depending on the course and stage, with no significant differences between them. Multivariate statistical analysis found five independent variables as stress determinants: female gender, low family income, number of academic and non-academic difficulties, and number of emotion-focused coping strategies. This analysis also showed that pathological stress is related to only one variable: the number of non-academic difficulties. These findings reinforce the importance of maintaining institutional actions for student social assistance and psychological support. Results also provide meaningful data for adequately planning more effective measures to promote students' mental health.(AU)

Este estudio pretende identificar la percepción de los estudiantes del sector salud sobre las dificultades académicas y no académicas, las estrategias de coping y la presencia de estrés. Este estudio transversal, con enfoque cuantitativo y cualitativo, utilizó cuestionarios estructurados e inventarios psicométricos validados (escala Brief COPE; inventario de sintomatología de estrés ISE ); además de entrevistas para ampliar la comprensión de los resultados de los instrumentos cuantitativos. En la etapa cuantitativa participaron 162 estudiantes de los cursos de grado en Fisioterapia, Fonoaudiología, Medicina, Nutrición y Terapia Ocupacional. De estos, 60 participaron en la entrevista cualitativa. Los resultados se sometieron a análisis estadístico univaria nte, para distinguir los grupos y asociaciones entre variables, y a análisis multivariado por regresión logística para identificar variables independientes que determinan el estrés. Los estudiantes reportaron enfrentar muchas dificultades académicas y no académicas, y utilizaban diferentes estrategias de coping. El análisis estadístico univariante no obtuvo diferencias significativas entre cursos y etapas respecto al número de dificultades y estrategias utilizadas. Un 45% y 100% de los estudiantes experimentaron estrés según el curso y la etapa considerada, sin diferencias significativas entre ellos. Se encontraron cinco variables independientes como factores de estrés: sexo femenino, renta familiar, número de dificultades académicas/no académicas y número de estrategias de coping orientadas a la "emoción". El estrés patológico estuvo relacionado solo a la variable número de dificultades no académicas. Se necesita mantener acciones institucionales de asistencia social y apoyo psicológico para favorecer una planificación efectiva de medidas de promoción de salud mental de los estudiantes.(AU)

Aprendizagem e Desenvolvimento Humano em Educação e Saúde permeados pelo Psicodrama e a Subjetividade / Learning and Human Development in Education and Health permeated by Psychodrama and Subjectivity

Objetivo: compreender como o psicodrama, enquanto recurso pedagógico, possibilita aos educadores da área da saúde mental de nível superior superarem de forma subjetiva as suas dificuldades no decorrer das atividades laborais para se desenvolverem. Método: trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa que utiliza o método educacional psicodramático proposto por Maria Alicia Romanã em consonância com as técnicas exploratórias da mente humana utilizadas por Jacob Levy Moreno no psicodrama e, teoria da subjetividade proposta por Luis Fernando Gonzáles Rey, sendo composto por um grupo de seis educadores de saúde mental. Resultados: evidenciaram a importância das técnicas de psicodrama para despertar pensamentos críticos e reflexivos nos educadores em relação a subjetividade individual. Conclusão: é de suma relevância a formação de educadores na área do psicodrama socioeducativos para intervir na saúde mental dos alunos possibilitando a criação de condições reais e viabilização de entendimentos.(AU)

Objective: to understand how psychodrama, as a pedagogical resource, enables higher-level mental health educators to subjectively overcome their difficulties in the course of work activities in order to develop. Method: this is a qualitative research that uses the psychodramatic educational method proposed by Maria Alicia Romanã in line with the exploratory techniques of the human mind used by Jacob Levy Moreno in psychodrama and, subjectivity theory proposed by Luis Fernando Gonzáles Rey, being composed by a group of six mental health educators. Results: evidenced the importance of psychodrama techniques to awaken critical and reflective thoughts in educators in relation to individual subjectivity. Conclusion: it is extremely important to train educators in the area of socioeducational psychodrama to intervene in the mental health of students, enabling the creation of real conditions and the viability of understandings.(AU)

comprender cómo el psicodrama, como recurso pedagógico, permite a los educadores de salud mental de nivel superior superar subjetivamente sus dificultades en el curso de las actividades laborales para desarrollarse. Método: esta es una investigación cualitativa que utiliza el método educativo psicodramático propuesto por Maria Alicia Romanã en línea con las técnicas exploratorias de la mente humana utilizadas por Jacob Levy Moreno en psicodrama y la teoría de la subjetividad propuesta por Luis Fernando Gonzáles Rey, siendo compuesta por un grupo de seis educadores en salud mental. Resultados: se evidenció la importancia de las técnicas del psicodrama para despertar pensamientos críticos y reflexivos en los educadores en relación a la subjetividad individual. Conclusión: es de suma importancia la formación de educadores en el área del psicodrama socioeducativo para intervenir en la salud mental de los estudiantes, posibilitando la creación de condiciones reales y la viabilidad de los entendimientos.(AU)

Identifying Value Factors in Institutional Leaders' Perspectives on Investing in Health Professions Educators.

Importance: Investing in educators, educational innovation, and scholarship is essential for excellence in health professions education and health care. Funds for education innovations and educator development remain at significant risk because they virtually never generate offsetting revenue. A broader shared framework is needed to determine the value of such investments. Objective: To explore the value factors using the value measurement methodology domains (individual, financial, operational, social or societal, strategic or political) that health professions leaders placed on educator investment programs, including intramural grants and endowed chairs. Design, Setting, and Participants: This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with participants from an urban academic health professions institution and its affiliated systems that were conducted between June and September 2019 and were audio recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes with a constructivist orientation. Participants included 31 leaders at multiple levels of the organization (eg, deans, department chairs, and health system leaders) and with a range of experience. Individuals who did not respond initially were followed up with until a sufficient representation of leader roles was achieved. Main Outcomes and Measures: Outcomes include value factors defined by the leaders for educator investment programs across the 5 value measurement methodology domains: individual, financial, operational, social or societal, and strategic or political. Results: This study included 29 leaders (5 [17%] campus or university leaders; 3 [10%] health systems leaders; 6 [21%] health professions school leaders; 15 [52%] department leaders). They identified value factors across the 5 value measurement methods domains. Individual factors emphasized the impact on faculty career, stature, and personal and professional development. Financial factors included tangible support, the ability to attract additional resources, and the importance of these investments as a monetary input rather than output. Operational factors identified educational programs and faculty recruitment or retention. Social and societal factors showcased scholarship and dissemination benefits to the external community beyond the organization and to the internal community of faculty, learners, and patients. Strategic and political factors highlighted impact on culture and symbolism, innovation, and organizational success. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that health sciences and health system leaders find value in funding educator investment programs in multiple domains beyond direct financial return on investment. These value factors can inform program design and evaluation, effective feedback to leaders, and advocacy for future investments. This approach can be used by other institutions to identify context-specific value factors.

Feasibility of delivering survivorship care via lay health educators: A pilot randomized controlled trial among rural cancer survivors.

PURPOSE: We tested the feasibility of survivorship care plan (SCP) delivery with/without a lay health educator (LHE) telephone-delivered information session among rural cancer survivors, and their effects on health-related self-efficacy and knowledge of cancer history. METHODS: Randomized trial of cancer survivors from 3 rural oncology clinics featuring either SCP alone (control) or SCP plus LHE-delivered information session (intervention). Participants completed a questionnaire on health-related self-efficacy and knowledge of cancer-specific medical history. Responses were compared to medical records for accuracy. SCPs were then mailed to participants. Approximately 5 months later, participants completed a follow-up questionnaire. A subset of participants took part in subsequent qualitative interviews about their study experience. FINDINGS: Of 301 survivors approached, 72 (23.9%) were randomized (mean age 66.4 years; 3.1 years from diagnosis; 62.5% female), and 65 (90.3%) completed the study. Global mental and physical health or self-efficacy scores did not change significantly from baseline to follow-up for either group. In exploratory analyses, self-efficacy increased in participants with inadequate/marginal health literacy in the intervention arm (+0.7, 95% CI = 0.1-1.2; P = .01). Accuracy of knowledge did not improve but was high at baseline (mean 76.0±14.5%). 60.1% and 48.4% of control and intervention participants, respectively, found SCPs definitely/somewhat useful. Qualitative data (n = 20) suggested that SCPs were helpful to patients when primary and oncology care were less integrated. CONCLUSIONS: An LHE-delivered informational session was feasible but had limited benefit to rural cancer survivors versus delivery of SCP alone but may be of benefit to patients with low health literacy or with less integrated care.

Evaluation of a Brief, Tailored Skin Cancer Risk Assessment and Referral Intervention for Community-Based Health Educators: Brief Report.

Skin cancer rates are rising and earlier detection through screening leads to better outcomes. Health educators in community centers are well-situated to assess skin cancer risk, deliver tailored health information, and refer high-risk patients to a dermatologist for a screening. This study describes the evaluation of a brief, tailored skin cancer risk assessment, and referral intervention training. The training was developed as part of a pilot feasibility study and seven health educators were trained in an interactive session. Knowledge, attitudes, and efficacy were assessed before and after training. Health educators showed overall improvements of 22% in skin cancer risk knowledge, 50% improvement in positive attitudes toward assessment and referral, and a 40% increase in efficacy to intervene with patients. Community-based health educators that completed the training were able to successfully assess their patients for skin cancer risk and refer high-risk patients for a screening with a healthcare provider.

Intervention Characteristics Considered in Health Educators' Adoption Decision-Making Process.

It is well known that perceptions of intervention characteristics (e.g., cost, source, evidence strength and quality) are a critical link from dissemination to implementation. What is less known is the process by which researchers understand the characteristics most valued by key intermediaries (i.e., real-world decision-makers), particularly in the federal system of Cooperative Extension. In Extension, university-based specialists are available to assist county-based agents in program selection, delivery, and evaluation. For this work, a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was used to conduct surveys and semi-structured interviews, informed by the Diffusion of Innovations theory and Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Educators and specialists were recruited across 47 states to identify characteristics of health promotion interventions that facilitate the adoption decision-making process. Analysis of intervention attribute importance survey data was conducted through a one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc test to determine individual variable differences between responses. Interviews underwent a conventional content analysis. In total, 121 educators and 47 specialists from 33 states completed the survey. Eighteen educators and 10 specialists completed interviews. Educators and specialists valued components such as the community need for the intervention, and potential reach compared with other components including previous delivery settings and external funding of the intervention (p < .05). Qualitative data indicated divergence between educators and specialists; educators valued understanding the intervention cost (time and training) and specialists valued the evidence base and external funding available. Intervention developers should communicate information valued by different stakeholders to improve the adoption of evidence-based interventions.

Evolution and growth of the ECHO (Enriching Communication skills for Health professionals in Oncofertility) program: a 5-year study in the training of oncofertility professionals.

PURPOSE: AYAs with cancer have unique psychosocial needs, with reproductive health being a primary concern. The ECHO training program provides reproductive health communication training to individuals providing care for AYAs with cancer. The purpose of this project is to describe the growth of ECHO and evaluate changes in learner engagement over a 5-year period. METHODS: ECHO is an 8-week online training program offered annually, with the program including learning modules, discussion topics and reflections, and synchronous discussions. Reflection quality scores and number of words were compared between the 5 cohorts using ANOVA with a p < .05 level of significance. Descriptive statistics summarized module topics, reflections, and synchronous discussions. RESULTS: The average number of reflections per unique learner increased each year (1.4 in cohort 1 vs 4.1 in cohort 5), as did average length and quality of reflections (72.1 words in cohort 1 vs 203.4 words in cohort 5, p < .0001; score of 1.21 in cohort 1 vs 4.46 in cohort 5, p < .0001). The percentage of learners in attendance at synchronous discussions increased between cohorts 4 and 5 (4.8% of learners in cohort 4 vs 18.8% of learners cohort 5). CONCLUSIONS: The ECHO program has seen significant growth and improvement in learner engagement over a 5-year period. This is particularly important given that student learning outcomes in online courses can be predicted by the level of engagement with online content. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: As fertility and reproductive health remain a top life goal and discussion priority for AYAs surviving cancer, increasing clinical competencies of AHPs in oncofertility is essential.

Health Educators in State/Local Public Health Departments: Training Needs and Awareness of Emerging Areas of Public Health Practice.

Although great progress has been made to define the field of health education and provide a voluntary certification system for professionals, research about the governmental health educator and health education specialist workforce is limited. The 2017 PH WINS (Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey) provides valuable data on understanding the workforce demographics, attitudes, and training needs of governmental public health workers, including health educators, and informs future investments in workforce development efforts nationally. The purpose of this article is to examine demographics, job engagement and satisfaction, training needs, certification, and other characteristics of health educators and certified health education specialists (CHES) from PH WINS. We analyzed the data to describe the health educator workforce and compared it with the national governmental workforce across a range of variables. Compared with the national 2017 PH WINS sample, health educators were relatively younger, more ethnically diverse, more likely to be educated with an advanced degree, and were predominately employed in local versus state public health agencies. Health educators sampled were significantly more knowledgeable of all public health concepts compared with the national 2017 PH WINS respondent workforce. Comparison of CHES versus non-CHES professionals is also provided, along with practice and policy implications based on the data. This is the first detailed analyses of health educators in state and local health departments, with important findings and implications related to workforce composition, satisfaction, retention, and training. Further cross-sectional workforce research is needed to understand the current strengths and gaps in the health education workforce.

Perceptions of undergraduate allied health students of the clinical learning environment and clinical educators' attributes at the University of Ghana

Background. Clinical education is a vital aspect of the education of health sciences students and consists of two components, i.e. the clinical learning environment and supervision.Objectives. To determine the undergraduate allied health sciences students' perceptions regarding clinical educators' attributes and the clinical learning environment.Methods. This cross-sectional study included 169 undergraduate students, randomly recruited from various allied health professions programmes of the University of Ghana. The McGill clinical teacher evaluation tool and the clinical learning environment inventory were used to determine students' perceptions of clinical educators' attributes and the clinical learning environment, respectively. The Kruskal-Wallis test and independent t-tests were used to test for relationships between students' level and programme of study and their perceptions. The level of significance was set at 95%.Results. Of the 169 participants, there were 99 (58.6%) male students, 79 (46.7%) third-year students and 82 (48.5%) medical laboratory science students. Only 16 (9.5%) participants indicated visits by lecturers during clinical rotations. The third-year students had a statistically significant perception of their clinical learning environment (p=0.000), while the differences between perceptions of clinical learning environment among the various programmes were also statistically significant (p=0.028), but not for clinical educators' attributes (p=0.261).Conclusion. Allied health sciences students have positive perceptions of their clinical learning environment and clinical educators' attributes. More frequent visits by lecturers to students during clinical rotations may ensure that student innovation is achieved in accordance with their classroom tuition

Blended learning during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic: Attitudes of nurse educators in Gauteng

Background: The use of blended learning (BL) pedagogy has become inevitable due to contemporary technological innovations in the nursing education sector. As of late, the need to use BL pedagogy has resulted by the sudden occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, several nurse educators still experience uncertainties in using BL due to technological, psychological, infrastructure and equipment readiness barriers. Aim: To report the attitudes of nurse educators towards the use of BL pedagogy as a new norm of teaching and learning in public nursing education institutions (NEIs) in the Gauteng Province (GP), South Africa, during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic period. Setting: The study was conducted in five Gauteng public NEIs. Methods: A descriptive non-experimental quantitative design was conducted with 144 nurse educators. Data was collected through a questionnaire. Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) was used to analyse data with the help of a biostatistician. Results: Technologically, only 50% (N = 72) found BL easy to use while 48% (n = 69) were ready and willing to use the BL Psychologically, more than half, that is, 65% (n = 94) lacked the confidence to use BL pedagogy. About 55% (n = 79) reported having inadequate BL infrastructure, while 32% (n = 46) seemed to be satisfied with the availability of effective equipment to support BL pedagogy. Conclusion: Based on the results, it is apparent that nurse educators in Gauteng are not technologically and psychologically ready, since the infrastructure and equipment to support the BL are not adequately provided.

A mixed-methods study of the effectiveness and perceptions of a course design institute for health science educators.

BACKGROUND: Most health care professionals get their start in academics without formal teaching training. As such, institutions encourage participation in opportunities to address gaps in faculty's knowledge of pedagogy and learning theory in order to promote both successful student and patient outcomes. This study aimed to examine the reception of a faculty development program focused on teaching participants the basics of course design. METHODS: Applying a mixed-method approach, this retrospective study used pre/post-tests, assignment grades, self-assessment questionnaires, and focus groups to elucidate the impact of the faculty development intervention on course design. The participants (n = 12) were health educators from a private all-graduate level university with campus locations across the United States, including in the Southwest and Midwest. In the Course Design Institute (CDI), the participating faculty learned evidence-based instructional approaches and techniques to implement contemporary teaching practices. RESULTS: The data from the pre/post-tests and focus groups suggest that participants learned about topics including instructional alignment, learning goals and objectives, instructional strategies, assessment planning, feedback approaches, communicating expectations, and adult learning theories by participating in this course. The final deliverable scores indicate that the CDI graduates were able to apply a backward design process to plan their own instruction. Data from both the survey and the focus groups suggest that participants were satisfied with the experience and particularly appreciated that the course was relevant to them as educators in the health sciences. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that the CDI was influential in developing the faculty's knowledge of the course design process, promoted the application of course design and pedagogy skills amongst CDI graduates, and positively impacted self-reported attitudes about their teaching abilities. In addition, feedback from participants indicates that they recognized the value of this program in their own development and they believed it should be a required course for all educators at the institution.

Reported Self-Efficacy of Health Educators During COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many public health professionals to take on new roles such as online teaching, communicating, and managing; serving on the frontlines of patient care; and serving as health education resource personnel. Researchers of this study posed the question: How has the pandemic impacted those who serve to help others? Seven aspects of self-efficacy in professional practice were examined via an online survey sent to health educators. Respondents were extremely confident communicating with their colleagues and supervisors (60%) and with students (51%), but only 19% were extremely confident in maintaining a work-life balance and 22% in managing personal and professional stress. Respondents reported being confident in all areas of responsibilities, overall, but they were most confident in Area 8 (ethics and professionalism) and least confident in Area 1 (assessing the needs and capacity of a community) since COVID-19. Findings imply a need for more professional development opportunities to foster professional and personal self-efficacy and to improve self-efficacy in needs assessment, leadership, and advocacy. Findings also show a need for workplace or state-based interventions to support resiliency and self-care among professionals who work to serve others.