The impact of critical thinking skills on student pharmacist GPA at a historically Black university.

INTRODUCTION: Limited information is available regarding whether malleable factors such as critical thinking skills are associated with academic performance among underrepresented minority pharmacy students. This study assessed the relationship between critical thinking skills and grade point average (GPA) among pharmacy students attending a Historically Black College. METHODS: A cross sectional study design was utilized to evaluate the association between student's GPA and critical thinking skills. Demographic data and GPA were abstracted from student records. The health sciences reasoning test with numeracy was administered to pharmacy students at Howard University during the 2017 to 2018 academic year. Critical thinking scores were classified as weak, moderate, or strong/superior. A one way analysis of variance was conducted to ascertain if the average GPA differed based on critical thinking skills category. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine whether student's critical thinking skill category was associated with the cumulative GPA after accounting for other factors. RESULTS: Among 217 students, the mean GPA among students with a weak critical thinking skills score (3.22 ± 0.40) was lower compared to students with a strong/superior score (3.39 ± 0.33) with a p-value of 0.029. After adjusting for other factors, a strong/superior critical thinking skills score was associated with a higher GPA (p-value = 0.024) in comparison to weak critical thinking skills. CONCLUSION: Stronger critical thinking skills scores are associated with better academic performance among underrepresented minority pharmacy students.

Comprehensive evaluation of majors offered by universities based on combination weighting.

This paper proposes a combination weighting calculation method to evaluate the performance of majors. Because of the varying emphasis of each weighting method, a combination of the Criteria Importance Through the Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) method, entropy method, and mean-variance analysis is proposed. Based on the evaluation index system for engineering majors offered at universities, the research of index weight determination and major evaluation is carried out after investigating the data of various indices of engineering majors in recent years. Compared with the majors in engineering education accreditation, the results reveal that the major comprehensive performance ranking is valid, thereby not only providing a new program for universities to establish an evaluation mechanism but also implementing normalized and dynamic major evaluation.

Relação entre o perfil de adesão e as barreiras para a permanência no programa de extensão "yoga: awaken one" / Relationship between the membership profile and the barriers to stay in the "yoga: awaken one" extension program

Objetivo: Investigar a relação entre o perfil de adesão e barreiras percebidas por estudantes universitários para permanência no Programa de Extensão "Yoga: Awaken ONE". Métodos: Foram realizados dois cortes transversais com universitários da Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia. O primeiro foi composto por 16 indivíduos e investigou o perfil demográfico, socioeconômico, antropométrico, da aptidão física e da qualidade de vida dos universitários que ingressaram no Programa de Extensão. O segundo visou identificar as barreiras para permanência de 13 estudantes (dentre os 16 iniciais) que haviam se afastado do Programa após quatro meses do início. Resultados: Houve predominância de indivíduos do sexo feminino, dos cursos de graduação em Educação Física e Pedagogia e da classe socioeconômica C. A maioria dos participantes estava com indicadores adequados de gordura corporal. Observou-se grande proporção de indivíduos com indicadores baixos de flexibilidade e força muscular. Para a qualidade de vida, a menor mediana foi observada para o domínio meio ambiente e a maior para o domínio relações sociais. As principais barreiras percebidas para a prática de yoga pelos universitários foram "jornada de estudos extensa" e "jornada de trabalho extensa". Observou-se correlação do perfil sociodemográfico, indicadores de obesidade, variáveis hemodinâmicas, flexibilidade, força muscular e qualidade de vida com barreiras percebidas para permanência no Programa de Extensão universitária "Yoga: Awaken ONE". Conclusões: Estes achados sugerem que o perfil do público universitário pode ser determinante para a permanência ou evasão de programas de promoção de exercícios físicos e precisa ser considerado em propostas de programas de extensão universitária.

Objective: Investigate the relationship between the member adherence profile and barriers perceived by university students to remain in the "Yoga: Awaken ONE" Extension Program. Methods: Two cross-sections were carried out with university students from the Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia. The first was composed of 16 individuals and investigated the demographic, socioeconomic, anthropometric, physical fitness, and quality of life profile of university students joining the Extension Program. The second aimed at identifying the barriers to remain in the program faced by 13 students (out of the initial 16) who had withdrawn from the Program four months after the beginning. Results: There was a predominance of female individuals, from undergraduate courses in Physical Education and Pedagogy, and from the C socioeconomic class. Most participants had adequate body fat indexes. There was a large proportion of individuals with low flexibility and muscle strength. For quality of life, the lowest median was observed for the environment domain, while the highest could be noted for the social relationship domain. The main barriers perceived for the practice of yoga by university students were "long study hours" and "long work hours". There was a correlation between sociodemographic profile, obesity indicators, hemodynamic variables, flexibility, muscle strength, and QOL with the perceived barriers to stay in the "Yoga: Awaken ONE" university extension program. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the profile of the university audience can be a determinant for the permanence or dropout of programs that promote physical exercise and therefore, it should be taken into consideration in proposals for university extension programs.

Psychosocial and environmental determinants of physical activity in a Brazilian public university employees - ELDAF: A prospective cohort study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Increased physical activity levels and their determinations are essential issues worldwide. The Longitudinal Study of Physical Activity Determinants (ELDAF) aims to understand the roles of psychosocial and environmental factors in workers' physical activity levels. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of non-faculty civil servants from a public university (approximately 1,200 individuals) will start in 2022 (baseline). The primary measurements will be accelerometer- and questionnaire-based physical activity, social support, social network, socioeconomic status, bereavement, job stress, body image, common mental disorders, depression, and neighborhood satisfaction. Additional measurements will include necessary sociodemographic, physical morbidity, lifestyle and anthropometric information. Participants' places of residence will be geocoded using complete addresses. All participants will furnish written, informed consent before the beginning of the study. Pilot studies were performed to identify and correct potential problems in the data collection instruments and procedures. ELDAF will be the first cohort study conducted in Latin America to investigate physical activity and its determinants.

Relationship between impulsivity, uncontrolled eating and body mass index: a hierarchical model.

BACKGROUND: Impulsivity increases the risk for obesity and weight gain. However, the precise role of impulsivity in the aetiology of overeating behavior and obesity is currently unknown. Here we examined the relationships between personality-related measures of impulsivity, Uncontrolled Eating, body mass index (BMI), and longitudinal weight changes. In addition, we analyzed the associations between general impulsivity domains and cortical thickness to elucidate brain vulnerability factors related to weight gain. METHODS: Students (N = 2318) in their first year of university-a risky period for weight gain-completed questionnaire measures of impulsivity and eating behavior at the beginning of the school year. We also collected their weight at the end of the term (N = 1177). Impulsivity was divided into three factors: stress reactivity, reward sensitivity and lack of self-control. Using structural equation models, we tested a hierarchical relationship, in which impulsivity traits were associated with Uncontrolled Eating, which in turn predicted BMI and weight change. Seventy-one participants underwent T1-weighted MRI to investigate the correlation between impulsivity and cortical thickness. RESULTS: Impulsivity traits showed positive correlations with Uncontrolled Eating. Higher scores in Uncontrolled Eating were in turn associated with higher BMI. None of the impulsivity-related measurements nor Uncontrolled Eating were correlated with longitudinal weight gain. Higher stress sensitivity was associated with increased cortical thickness in the superior temporal gyrus. Lack of self-control was positively associated with increased thickness in the superior medial frontal gyrus. Finally, higher reward sensitivity was associated with lower thickness in the inferior frontal gyrus. CONCLUSION: The present study provides a comprehensive characterization of the relationships between different facets of impulsivity and obesity. We show that differences in impulsivity domains might be associated with BMI via Uncontrolled Eating. Our results might inform future clinical strategies aimed at fostering self-control abilities to prevent and/or treat unhealthy weight gain.

Ensino da segurança do paciente na graduação em enfermagem no estado da Bahia / Enseñanza sobre la seguridad del paciente en el pregrado en enfermería en el estado de Bahia-Brasil / Teaching patient safety in undergraduate nursing in the state of Bahia

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar o tema segurança do paciente nos componentes curriculares de cursos de graduação em enfermagem no estado da Bahia. Método: pesquisa quantitativa, descritiva, exploratória de base documental desenvolvida em fevereiro de 2019, com dados extraídos da Matriz Curricular, Projeto Pedagógico e Ementa, disponíveis nos websites de instituições de ensino superior com situação ativa no sistema e-MEC. Resultados: das 75 instituições cadastradas, nove eram públicas, e 66 privadas. O tema segurança do paciente não foi encontrado em nenhum website de universidades públicas e apenas em 8,06% das privadas. O contato inicial com a temática dava-se no 3º semestre, a carga horária média das disciplinas que abordavam o tema variava de 30 a 306 horas e o componente curricular era obrigatório para estas disciplinas. Apenas 1,71% dos websites das instituições públicas apresentavam todos os documentos pesquisados, enquanto as privadas apresentaram 33,33%, a matriz curricular foi o documento mais disponibilizado. Conclusão: a inserção do tema segurança do paciente nos componentes curriculares mostrou-se insuficiente, apontando necessidade de revisão dos processos formativos e inclusão de abordagem interdisciplinar e transdisciplinar, tendo em vista a complexidade do cuidado em saúde e a importância do desenvolvimento de competências específicas com foco na segurança do paciente.

RESUMEN Objetivo: identificar el tema seguridad del paciente en los componentes curriculares de cursos de pregrado en enfermería en el estado de Bahia-Brasil. Método: investigación cuantitativa, descriptiva, exploratoria de base documental desarrollada en febrero de 2019, con datos extraídos de la Matriz Curricular, Proyecto Pedagógico y Directrices, disponibles en los sitios electrónicos de instituciones de enseñanza superior con situación activa en el sistema e-MEC. Resultados: de las 75 instituciones registradas, nueve eran públicas y 66 privadas. El tema de la seguridad del paciente no se encontró en ningún website de universidades públicas y solo en el 8,06% de las privadas. El contacto inicial con la temática se trabajaba en el 3º semestre, el promedio de la carga horaria de las asignaturas que trataban el tema variaba de 30 a 306 horas y el componente curricular era obligatorio para estas asignaturas. Solo el 1,71% de los sitios electrónicos de las instituciones públicas presentaba todos los documentos investigados, mientras que los privados presentaron el 33,33%, la matriz curricular fue el documento más disponible. Conclusión: la inserción del tema seguridad del paciente en los componentes curriculares se mostró insuficiente, señalando necesidad de revisión de los procesos formativos e inclusión de abordaje interdisciplinario y transdisciplinario, teniendo en cuenta la complejidad del cuidado de la salud y la importancia del desarrollo de competencias específicas centradas en la seguridad del paciente.

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the theme of patient safety in the curricular components of undergraduate nursing courses in the state of Bahia. Method: quantitative, descriptive, exploratory research of documentary basis developed in February 2019, with data extracted from the Curricular Matrix, Pedagogical Project and Menu, available on the websites of higher education institutions with active situation in the e-MEC system. Results: of the 75 registered institutions, nine were public, and 66 were private. The theme of patient safety was not found in any website of public universities and only in 8.06% of private universities. The initial contact with the theme took place in the 3rd semester, the average workload of the subjects that addressed the theme ranged from 30 to 306 hours and the curricular component was mandatory for these disciplines. Only 1.71% of the websites of public institutions had all the documents surveyed, while the private ones presented 33.33%, the curriculum matrix was the most available document. Conclusion: the insertion of the patient safety theme in the curricular components proved insufficient, pointing out the need for review of training processes and inclusion of an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach, in view of the complexity of health care and the importance of developing specific competencies focused on patient safety.

Prevalence of negative self-rated health in university students and its relationship with the co-occurrence of risk behaviors / Prevalência da autoavaliação de saúde negativa em universitários e sua relação com a concorrência de comportamentos de risco

ABSTRACT The present study estimate the prevalence of negative self-rated health and to analyze its association with simultaneous risk behaviors (insufficient levels of physical activity, greater exposure to sedentary time and inappropriate sleep time) in students at a public university in the state from Minas Gerais, Brazil. It consists of cross-sectional study, with data collected through a questionnaire. The outcome variable was negative self-rated health. The independent variables were estimated by the questions related to the time spent on physical activity, sitting and sleep time, and these three behaviors were considered according to the risk criteria (none, one, two and three risk behaviors). The association was estimated by the Prevalence Ratios (PR), via Poisson regression. 1,110 students participated in the study. The prevalence of negative self-rated health among university students was 47.3%, and the prevalence of two risk behaviors and three risk behaviors were 41.3% and 11.3%, respectively. The simultaneous occurrence of three risk behaviors was associated with negative self-rated health in university students. The information in this study makes it possible to characterize the need for actions to promote health in the university environment.

RESUMO O presente estudo estimou a prevalência da autoavaliação de saúde negativa e analisou a sua associação com comportamentos de risco simultâneos (níveis insuficientes de atividade física, maior exposição ao tempo sedentário e tempo de sono não apropriado) em estudantes de uma universidade pública do ensino superior do estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Consiste de um estudo transversal, com informações mensuradas via questionário e a variável desfecho foi a autoavaliação de saúde negativa. As variáveis independentes foram estimadas pelas perguntas referentes ao tempo despendido em: atividade física, tempo sentado e tempo de sono, e esses três comportamentos foram somados conforme os critérios de risco (nenhum, um, dois e três fatores de risco). A associação foi estimada pelas Razões de Prevalências (RP), via regressão de Poisson. Participaram do estudo 1.110 estudantes. A prevalência da autoavaliação de saúde negativa entre os universitários foi de 47,3%, e as prevalências de dois fatores de risco e de três fatores de risco foram de 41,3% e 11,3%, respectivamente. A ocorrência de forma simultânea de três fatores de risco mostrou-se associada com a autoavaliação de saúde negativa em universitários. As informações deste estudo possibilitam caracterizar a necessidade de ações na promoção de saúde no ambiente universitário.

Ambiente de ensino-aprendizagem na formação inicial universitária / Teaching-learning environment in initial university training in physical education

ABSTRACT This study aimed to analyze the perceptions of university Physical Education students at different progression levels in the programs regarding the teaching-learning environment in the initial training. In total, 273 students (Bachelor's program n = 150; Licentiate program n = 123) from the Licentiate Program in Physical Education of a public university in Santa Catarina, Brazil, participated in this study, responding to the adapted version of the Assessment Questionnaire of the Perceived Environment in the Initial Training in Physical Education. The Chi-square test was used to analyze the associations between the student progression levels in the programs and their perceptions about the initial training environment. The results indicated the predominance of practical classes/experiences and written theoretical evaluations, especially in the initial phases. The infrequent observation experiences and learning through practice or observation were the assumed roles, made evident primarily in the final semesters. Although the students perceived themselves as active regarding their participation levels, they indicated that the professors are the ones responsible for making the decisions. It is concluded that the initial training in Physical Education requires reconfiguring certain teaching-learning practices to increase student involvement and responsibility for their own training process.

RESUMO Objetivou-se analisar as percepções de estudantes universitários de Educação Física em distintos níveis de progressão no curso, sobre o ambiente de ensino-aprendizagem na formação inicial. Participaram 273 estudantes (Bacharelado n=150; Licenciatura n=123) do curso de licenciatura em Educação Física de uma universidade pública de Santa Catarina, Brasil, os quais responderam à versão adaptada do Questionário de Avaliação do Ambiente Percebido da Formação Inicial em Educação Física. O teste Qui-quadrado foi utilizado para analisar as associações entre o nível de progressão discente nos cursos e suas percepções sobre o ambiente de formação inicial. Os resultados indicaram a predominância de aulas/vivências práticas e de avaliações teóricas escritas, especialmente nas fases iniciais. As experiências poucos frequentes de observação, e o aprendizado pela prática ou por observação foi o papel assumido, especialmente evidenciados nos semestres finais. Apesar de os estudantes terem se percebido ativos quanto ao seu nível de participação, indicaram que os professores são os principais responsáveis por tomar as decisões. Conclui-se que a formação inicial em Educação Física necessita reconfigurar determinadas práticas de ensino-aprendizagem para aumentar o envolvimento e a responsabilidade discentes pelo próprio processo formativo.

Estimating the effect of timetabling decisions on the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in medium-to-large engineering schools in Canada: an agent-based modelling study.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, universities transitioned to primarily online delivery, and it is important to understand what implications the transition back to in-person activities may have on spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the student population. The specific aim of our study was to provide insights into the effect of timetabling decisions on the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in a population of undergraduate engineering students. METHODS: We developed an agent-based modelling simulation that used a Canadian first-year undergraduate engineering program with an enrolment of 180 students in 5 courses of 12.7 weeks in length. Each course involved 150 minutes of lectures and 110 minutes of tutorials or laboratories per week. We considered several online and in-person timetabling scenarios with different scheduling frequencies and section sizes, in combination with surveillance and testing interventions. The study was conducted from May 1 to Aug. 31, 2021. RESULTS: When timetabling interventions were applied, we found a reduction in the mean number of students who were infected and that a containment of widespread outbreaks could be achieved. Timetables with online lectures and small (1/6 class capacity) tutorial or laboratory sections reduced the mean number of students who were infected by 83% and reduced the risk of large outbreaks that occurred with in-person lectures. We also found that spread of SARS-CoV-2 was less sensitive to class size than to contact frequency when a biweekly timetable was implemented (i.e., alternating online and in-person sections on a biweekly basis). Including a contact-tracing policy and randomized testing to the timetabling interventions helped to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 further. Vaccination coverage had the largest effect on reducing the number of students who were infected. INTERPRETATION: Our modelling showed that by taking advantage of timetabling opportunities and applying appropriate interventions (contact tracing, randomized testing and vaccination), SARS-CoV-2 infections may be averted and disruptions (case isolations) reduced. However, given the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, transitions from online to in-person classes should proceed cautiously from small biweekly classes, for example, to manage risk.