Use and Effectiveness of the Individual Development Plan Among Postdoctoral Researchers: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study

The individual development plan (IDP) is a career planning tool that aims to assist PhD trainees in self-assessing skills, exploring career paths, developing short- and long-term career goals, and creating action plans to achieve those goals. The National Institutes of Health and many academic institutions have created policies that mandate completion of the IDP by both graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Despite these policies, little information exists regarding how widely the tool is used and whether it is useful to the career development of PhD trainees. Herein, we present data from a multi-institutional, online survey on the use and effectiveness of the IDP among a group of 183 postdoctoral researchers. The overall IDP completion rate was 54% and 38% of IDP users reported that the tool was helpful to their career development. Positive relationships with one’s advisor, confidence regarding completing training, trainees’ confidence about their post-training career, and a positive experience with institutional career development resources are associated with respondents’ perception that the IDP is useful for their career development. We suggest that there is a need to further understand the nuanced use and effectiveness of the IDP in order to determine how to execute the use of the tool to maximize trainees’ career development

A Cross-Sectional Study of the Use and Effectiveness of the Individual Development Plan Among Doctoral Students

Background: The Individual Development Plan (IDP) was introduced as a tool to aid in career planning for doctoral trainees. Despite the National Institutes of Health and academic institutions creating policies that mandate the use of IDPs, little information exists regarding the use and effectiveness of the career planning tool.Methods: We conducted a multi-institutional, online survey to measure IDP use and effectiveness. The survey was distributed to potential respondents via social media and direct email. IDP survey questions were formatted using a five-point Likert scale (strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree and strongly disagree). For data analysis purposes, responses were grouped into two categories (agree versus does not agree/disagree). The data were summarized as one-way frequencies and the Pearson chi-square test was used to determine the statistical significance of univariate associations between the survey variables and an outcome measure of the effectiveness of the IDP.Results: Among all respondents, fifty-three percent reported that they are required to complete an IDP while thirty-three percent reported that the tool is helpful to their career development. Further, our data suggests that the IDP is most effective when doctoral students complete the tool with faculty mentors with whom they have a positive relationship. Respondents who are confident about their career plans and who take advantage of career development resources at their institution are also more likely to perceive that the IDP is useful for their career development.Conclusion: Given the nuanced use and effectiveness of the IDP, we call for additional research to characterize the overall use and effectiveness of the IDP and to determine whether there are unintended negative consequences created through the use of the tool. Furthermore, we recommend an enhancement of career development infrastructure that would include mentorship training for faculty in order to provide substantially more career planning support to trainees

Use and effectiveness of the Individual Development Plan among postdoctoral researchers: findings from a cross-sectional study [version 2; referees: 2 approved, 3 approved with reservations]

The individual development plan (IDP) is a career planning tool that aims to assist PhD trainees in self-assessing skills, exploring career paths, developing short- and long-term career goals, and creating action plans to achieve those goals. The National Institutes of Health and many academic institutions have created policies that mandate completion of the IDP by both graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Despite these policies, little information exists regarding how widely the tool is used and whether it is useful to the career development of PhD trainees. Herein, we present data from a multi-institutional, online survey on the use and effectiveness of the IDP among a group of 183 postdoctoral researchers. The overall IDP completion rate was 54% and 38% of IDP users reported that the tool was helpful to their career development. Positive relationships with one’s advisor, confidence regarding completing training, trainees’ confidence about their post-training career, and a positive experience with institutional career development resources are associated with respondents’ perception that the IDP is useful for their career development. We suggest that there is a need to further understand the nuanced use and effectiveness of the IDP in order to determine how to execute the use of the tool to maximize trainees’ career development

A cross-sectional study of the use and effectiveness of the Individual Development Plan among doctoral students [version 2; referees: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]

Background: The Individual Development Plan (IDP) was introduced as a tool to aid in career planning for doctoral trainees. Despite the National Institutes of Health and academic institutions creating policies that mandate the use of IDPs, little information exists regarding the use and effectiveness of the career planning tool. Methods: We conducted a multi-institutional, online survey to measure IDP use and effectiveness. The survey was distributed to potential respondents via social media and direct email. IDP survey questions were formatted using a five-point Likert scale (strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree and strongly disagree). For data analysis purposes, responses were grouped into two categories (agree versus does not agree/disagree). The data were summarized as one-way frequencies and the Pearson chi-square test was used to determine the statistical significance of univariate associations between the survey variables and an outcome measure of the effectiveness of the IDP. Results: Among all respondents, fifty-three percent reported that they are required to complete an IDP while thirty-three percent reported that the tool is helpful to their career development. Further, our data suggests that the IDP is most effective when doctoral students complete the tool with faculty mentors with whom they have a positive relationship. Respondents who are confident about their career plans and who take advantage of career development resources at their institution are also more likely to perceive that the IDP is useful for their career development. Conclusion: Given the nuanced use and effectiveness of the IDP, we call for additional research to characterize the overall use and effectiveness of the IDP and to determine whether there are unintended negative consequences created through the use of the tool. Furthermore, we recommend an enhancement of career development infrastructure that would include mentorship training for faculty in order to provide substantially more career planning support to trainees

Brief Psychological Intervention for Acute Posttraumatic Stress: Individual and Trauma Factors Affecting Recovery in Low-SES Minorities.

Low-SES minorities in urban areas experience higher rates of trauma and greater need for treatment than the general population. Individual and trauma factors may determine who benefits most from treatment. Brief intervention and group format may be particularly helpful to fully utilize minimal resources and maximize treatment gain. This study is part of a larger NIH-funded study. We worked in an underserved area with recently traumatized individuals to compare Psychological First Aid (PFA: group format, control), Stress Management Therapy (SMT: group format, trauma-writing component)and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR: individual format) to determine the impact of the interventions and whether certain interventions are better for certain types of people and trauma. 87 low-SES, minority participants were randomized to receive 4 active sessions of PFA, SMT or EMDR (31, 29, 27 participants in each group, respectively). Follow-up assessments were conducted at 1-, 3- and 6-months post-intervention. Outcome measures: PTSD, depressive, physical symptoms. Individual factors: PTSD severity, gender, substance abuse, childhood trauma, borderline personality disorder. Trauma factors: trauma types. HLM statistical methods were used. For the entire sample, EMDR worked best for reducing depressive symptoms, PFA for reducing PTSD symptoms, and SMT for reducing physical symptoms. Within group, EMDR worked best for those high in baseline PTSD and those endorsing borderline personality characteristics. SMT worked best for those who reported using marijuana and those with bereavement trauma. PFA worked best for individuals with a history of childhood sexual abuse and those with a violent trauma. Limitations and future directions are discussed.</p

Emotional Writing in an HIV+ Population: Assessing Two Scoring Methods of Emotional/Cognitive Processing and Their Effects on Health Status, Physical Symptoms and Psychological Well-being.

Objective: The purpose of the present study is to examine whether level of written emotional expression (EE) and emotional/cognitive processing (ECP) for traumatic events predict health status (CD4 and VL), Category B symptoms, depression and anxiety in an HIV+ population over four years. Specifically, two different scoring methods of two variables within ECP (cognitive appraisal and self-esteem) will be compared to see if a change score (SMCHANGE) or a final score (SMFINAL) better predict outcomes. The possible mediating role of ECP in the relationship between EE and outcomes will also be explored. Methods: This longitudinal study assessed 169 HIV+ and diverse men and women in the midrange of illness as indicated by a CD4 number between 150 and 200 and no previous AIDS-defining symptom. EE/ECP data was gathered during baseline assessment and participants attended follow-up assessments every 6 months for a period of 4 years. Hierarchical Linear Modeling was used to examine change over time in CD4, VL log, Category B symptoms, depression and anxiety controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, education, anti-HIV medication and baseline values for each outcome. In addition, analyses for CD4 and VL log were rerun controlling for medication adherence. Results: Positive EE was found to be significantly related to only CD4 and Category B symptoms slopes. Negative EE was not related to any outcome. ECP was found to be related to CD4, VL log and Category B symptoms slope. No relationships were found between EE/ECP and depression and anxiety. SMFINAL scores on ECP subscales were found to predict CD4 and VL log slope better than SMCHANGE, but SMCHANGE scores predicted Category B symptoms slope better than SMFINAL. Within meditational analyses, ECP was found to mediate the relationship between positive EE and CD4 slope controlling for adherence. Positive EE mediated the relationship between ECP and Category B symptoms slope. Conclusions: Higher engagement in positive EE and ECP within emotional writing about a trauma contributes to beneficial changes in health outcomes over time within HIV+ individuals. SMFINAL seems to be more related to CD4 and VL log slope while SMCHANGE seems to be more related to Category B symptoms slope, indicating that both scoring methods within ECP seem to be valuable. Findings support the meditational role of ECP between EE and CD4, and provide new evidence that positive EE plays a meditational role between ECP and Category B symptoms. These findings can be used to help improve health for patients in future studies or in CBT therapies

Positive and negative emotional expression measured from a single written essay about trauma predicts survival 17 years later in people living with HIV

To determine whether expression of positive and negative emotions measured within a single written trauma essay predicts survival over 17 years in people living with HIV. This is a longitudinal, observational study of a volunteer sample of HIV-seropositive individuals at the mid-range of disease (150-500 CD4-cells/mm3 with no prior AIDS-defining symptoms). Exclusion criteria included substance dependence, dementia, and/or psychosis. Baseline assessments occurred between 1997 and 1999 and survival data was collected in 2014 (17 year follow up). At baseline, participants wrote an essay about the most traumatic event in their life. Emotional expression was measured by the number of positive and negative emotional words in the essay. The primary study outcome measure was survival from baseline. Biomedical covariates included CD4 count, viral load, age, and antiretroviral medications. Sociodemographic covariates included gender, race, and education. The sample was diverse in terms of age (M [SD] 37.60 [9.07]), sex (70.7% male), sexual orientation (55.5% gay or bisexual), and race/ethnicity (37.2% African American, 30.5% white, 28.0% Hispanic, and 4.3% other). Positive, negative, and total emotional expression predicted greater survival (ps < 0.015). Those in the top third of total emotional expression had 3.83 times the survival rate (95% CI: 1.62, 9.02) of those in the bottom third. Odds ratios were 1.85 for positive emotion expression and 2.18 for negative emotion expression. Both positive and negative emotions expressed in a written trauma essay predict survival over 17 years in people living with HIV. Expressing emotions may have benefits for health

Effectiveness of three brief treatments for recent traumatic events in a low-SES community setting

To determine whether brief treatments provide psychological relief after traumatic events in low-resource communities. Participants ( = 105) who had experienced a traumatic event within the past 6 months were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 4-session treatments: individual eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), group-administered stress management with a trauma focus (SMT), or group-administered psychological first aid (PFA). Measures administered pretreatment and at 1-, 3-, and 6-month posttreatment included posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, posttraumatic cognitions (PTCI), and depressive symptoms (BDI). The 3 treatment groups all showed significant declines in PTSD, PTCI, and BDI symptoms over time with large prepost effect sizes (median 1-month: 0.96, 3-month: 1.38, 6-month: 1.10). However, the treatment groups showed significantly different rates of decline, with the EMDR group showing the fastest declines-interaction PTCI: (1, 237) = 5.85, = .016; depression:, (1, 239) = 4.90, = .028-followed by the SMT and then PFA group. While there were significant differences between the EMDR and PFA groups at the 1- and 3-month follow-ups, there were no significant differences in any of the 3 outcome measures at the 6-month follow-up, nor were there significant differences between groups on PTSD symptoms, (1, 239) = 2.30, = .131. This study provides preliminary evidence that any of these 3 approaches may be useful in low-resource community settings. Because it gives the quickest relief, EMDR is the preferred approach, followed by SMT, due its ease of administration. PFA provides a reasonable alternative. Where possible, booster sessions should be planned. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)