Student Self-Efficacy Levels for Performing Clinical Skills Learned Virtually During a Pandemic

The purpose of this study was to explore student self-efficacy for performance of clinical skills learned virtually, the effectiveness of teaching clinical skills online, the relationships between students’ feelings of self-efficacy and the performance of clinical skills, and the students’ perspectives of learning clinical skills virtually. This is a one-group mixed methods study that included twenty-one Master of Occupational Therapy students. Self-efficacy was measured using the Learning Self-Efficacy Scale (L-SES), performance was measured using an instructor-created rubric, and qualitative data was collected using open-ended questions. Students presented with higher levels of self-efficacy for range of motion (ROM) than manual muscle testing (MMT). For MMT, self-efficacy ratings in the Affective Domain were statistically significantly higher than those in the Cognitive and Psychomotor Domains. There were no relationships between L-SES scores and the physical competency exam score. Common themes identified were factors that increased self-efficacy and factors that decreased self-efficacy. This study provides foundational evidence supporting the use of multi-media resources to teach clinical skills virtually and supports online instruction as an effective method for teaching clinical skills and for promoting sufficient self-efficacy for performance of clinical skills

An evaluation of the role of miR-361-5p in senescence and systemic ageing

This is the final version. Available on open access from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordData availability: The data presented in this study are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available for reasons of intellectual property.Senescent cells are key regulators of ageing and age-associated disease. MicroRNAs (miRs) are a key component of the molecular machinery governing cellular senescence, with several known to regulate important genes associated with this process. We sought to identify miRs associated with both senescence and reversal by pinpointing those showing opposing directionality of effect in senescence and in response to senotherapy. Cellular senescence phenotypes were assessed in primary human endothelial cells following targeted manipulation of emergent miRNAs. Finally, the effect of conserved target gene knockdown on lifespan and healthspan was assessed in a C. elegans system in vivo. Three miRNAs (miR-5787, miR-3665 and miR-361-5p) demonstrated associations with both senescence and rejuvenation, but miR-361-5p alone demonstrated opposing effects in senescence and rescue. Treatment of late passage human endothelial cells with a miR-361-5p mimic caused a 14 % decrease in the senescent load of the culture. RNAi gene knockdown of conserved miR-361-5p target genes in a C. elegans model however resulted in adverse effects on healthspan and/or lifespan. Although miR-361-5p may attenuate aspects of the senescence phenotype in human primary endothelial cells, many of its validated target genes also play essential roles in the regulation or formation of the cytoskeletal network, or its interaction with the extracellular matrix. These processes are essential for cell survival and cell function. Targeting miR-361-5p alone may not represent a promising target for future senotherapy; more sophisticated approaches to attenuate its interaction with specific targets without roles in essential cell processes would be required.Al Jouf UniversitySaudi Arabia Cultural Bureau, UKNational Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR