Interprofessional education : an analysis of the introduction of a common core in curricula for selected health professions

The aim of the study: - to to identify cultural differences between various professions and educational institutions - to to explore how the implementation of the common core in curricula influenced students’ professional habitus (identities) - when taught separately - when taught interprofessionally with longer or shorter duration - to to identify whether, and if so how, differences in the dimensions of interprofessional education affect students’ perception of their own and of another health care profession’s cultural capital (competence) Context: The Norwegian government introduced a common core into the curricula (modified curricula) for all health and social educational programmes in the conviction that this would result in more collaboratively and thereby more effective and efficient health care. It called upon profession-oriented studies to introduce interprofessional education across the health and social disciplines with opportunities for interaction in the expectation that this would reinforce students’ perceptions of their interprofessionalism and their habitus as health workers. Theoretical framework: Bourdieu’s theory of the educational system was chosen to shed light on the implementation process of the common core and to interpret interprofessional education in health care. Methodological approach: A comparative, explorative design was chosen to study health care students’ perceptions of interprofessionalism and of their own and of other professions’ cultural capital. Different health care students at Oslo University College and Ålesund University College participated in ‘StudData’, a national database for studies of recruitment and qualifications in professions. The students were asked to respond to statements in a questionnaire about interprofessionalism. Students at Bergen University College and the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, with different duration and modes of interprofessional education were also selected in order to get an insight into the students’ socialisation process concerning interprofessional cultural capital. All data were analysed using SPSS; comprising cross-tables, one-way analysis of variance, while STATlab was applied to carry out correspondence analysis and analysis of hierarchical classification. Results: Part I Students’ perceptions of interprofessionalism Students from five professions valued interprofessionalism differently. The occupational therapy (OT) and nursing students were more positive towards interprofessional education and collaborative practice than were the radiography and medical laboratory science students. Nursing students from four educational institutions understood interprofessionalism differently, those at Bjerregaardsgt. and Ullevål being more positive than those at Aker and Ålesund. Students with a modified curriculum appreciated interprofessionalism more highly than did those with an unmodified curriculum (before the revising of the curricula). The results showed that students having the common core implemented as interprofessional education valued interprofessional studies and work more highly than those with the common core implemented as uniprofessional education. Students with longer interprofessional education appreciated interprofessional practice more highly than those with shorter interprofessional education. Part II Students’ perceptions of own and the other profession’s capability The mature OT and physiotherapy (PT) students at the Karolinska Institutet, with longer experience in health care before starting the study than corresponding students at Bergen University College had a broader view of their own and of other professions’ cultural capital. The younger OT and PT students at Bergen University College, with less experience in health care, expressed a narrower perception of an OT’s and a PT’s cultural capital. Discussion: The implementation process of the common core in the curricula and the results from empirical data of the student groups’ perceptions are discussed in relation to theory, biosocial variables (as part of students’ habitus), and result of previous research in the field. Finally, findings are seen in relation to how to improve students’ habitus as health workers and their interprofessional cultural capital

Core competences : a mixed methods study of biomedical laboratory scientists in Norway

Background: This study describes how a sample of Norwegian biomedical laboratory scientists perceive their profession's core competences. Method: An explorative sequential mixed method was conducted based on two rounds of data collection and includes qualitative and quantitative data. In a pilot study, seven biomedical laboratory scientists, from a middle-sized and a smaller hospital, contributed in a qualitative research interview. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed. In a main study, a questionnaire containing 36 statements was developed to investigate the biomedical laboratory scientists’ perceptions of their core competences. The questionnaire was forwarded to a random selection of 2000 biomedical laboratory scientists. A total of 587 respondents completed the questionnaire, giving a response rate of 29.3 per cent. Results and conclusion: The results of the interviews showed that biomedical laboratory scientists perceived their core competences as basically related to analyses and the quality of biomedical laboratory work. The data analysis of the responses from the survey revealed seven factors describing core competences in biomedical laboratory processes. The factors include pre-analytic, analytic and post-analytic competence, in addition to co-mentoring skills and collaborative competence. Keywords: quality, analysis, core competence, biomedical laboratory scientist, collaborative competenceacceptedVersio

American ginseng suppresses inflammation and DNA damage associated with mouse colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a dynamic, idiopathic, chronic inflammatory condition associated with a high colon cancer risk. American ginseng has antioxidant properties and targets many of the players in inflammation. The aim of this study was to test whether American ginseng extract prevents and treats colitis. Colitis in mice was induced by the presence of 1% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in the drinking water or by 1% oxazolone rectally. American ginseng extract was mixed in the chow at levels consistent with that currently consumed by humans as a supplement (75 p.p.m., equivalent to 58 mg daily). To test prevention of colitis, American ginseng extract was given prior to colitis induction. To test treatment of colitis, American ginseng extract was given after the onset of colitis. In vitro studies were performed to examine mechanisms. Results indicate that American ginseng extract not only prevents but it also treats colitis. Inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 (markers of inflammation) and p53 (induced by inflammatory stress) are also downregulated by American ginseng. Mucosal and DNA damage associated with colitis is at least in part a result of an oxidative burst from overactive leukocytes. We therefore tested the hypothesis that American ginseng extract can inhibit leukocyte activation and subsequent epithelial cell DNA damage in vitro and in vivo. Results are consistent with this hypothesis. The use of American ginseng extract represents a novel therapeutic approach for the prevention and treatment of UC

Interprofessional Learning Through Shadowing in Rehabilitations Department: A Qualitative Study of the Student´s Placement in Hospital Setting

Interprofessional collaborative learning (IPL) is a requirement in health and social education, primary in student placements. This study explored IPL as shadowing with seven participants at a department of physical medicine and rehabilitation in a hospital. Seven participants were divided into two groups (n=3; n=4) when caring for two patients. Both groups wrote a rehabilitation plan together with the patients. In a submitted template, the students reflected on roles and responsibilities of health care professionals. To examine how the informants expressed their experiences of IPL, focus group interviews were conducted with each group and transcribed. The focus group transcripts, together with submitted templates, were then analysed using Giorgis’ model of content analysis. All informants expressed that IPL led to acquired knowledge about each other’s responsibilities in healthcare. Participants were aware of differences and similarities between their responsibilities. They reported that leadership and communication are prerequisites for collaborative practice

Form Feedback on the Web: A Comparison of Popup Alerts and In-Form Error Messages

acceptedVersio

Aktuelle forskningsområder for bioingeniører innen medisinsk biokjemi

Source at https://www.bioingenioren.no/fag/fag-originalartikkel/aktuelle-forskningsomrader-for-bioingeniorer-innen-medisinsk-biokjemi/.Innledning. Bioingeniørfaget er lite synlig i helsevesenet. Å identifisere forskningsområder innen biokjemisk laboratoriemedisin, kan være et ledd i å synliggjøre yrket. Mer forskning innen bioingeniørfaget er viktig for å kunne evaluere nye behandlingsteknikker, utvikle evidensbasert praksis og bedre pasientbehandling. Dette prosjektet er andre del av en studie som undersøker aktuelle forskningsområder for norske bioingeniører. I den første delen av denne studien (del 1) kartla vi hvilke temaer bioingeniører innen medisinsk biokjemi mener det bør forskes på. Temaene som kom opp var knyttet til pasientrelaterte utfordringer, organisatoriske/psykososiale forhold, analysering/ kvalitetssikring og bioingeniøren i fremtiden. I denne delen (del 2) har vi gått videre og sett på hvilke av disse forskningsområdene som er viktigst sett fra bioingeniørene ved medisinsk biokjemi sitt ståsted. Materiale og metode. Delphi-metoden er benyttet for å oppnå konsensus. Basert på de tidligere kartlagte forskningsområdene i del 1 av studien, samt annen forskning, ble det utarbeidet et spørreskjema hvor 33 aktuelle forskningsområder ble presentert. Spørreskjemaet ble sendt til bioingeniører ved 27 medisinsk biokjemiske laboratorier. Respondentene skulle ved hjelp av en Likert-skala rangere viktigheten av de 33 forskningsområdene knyttet til henholdsvis pasient, samarbeid med kollegaer og bioingeniørfaget generelt. Resultat. I alt 21 besvarte spørreskjemaet, noe som gir en svarprosent på 77,8 %. Studien viser at forskningsområder innen kategoriene preanalyse og analytisk var høyt rangerte. Dette omfatter blant annet å undersøke helsepersonell sin prosedyrekunnskap når det gjelder kvalitetssikring og om annet helsepersonell er bevisst på verdien av preanalytiske variabler. Å synliggjøre bioingeniørfaget og utvikle pasientnære analyser, kom også frem som aktuelle forskningsområder.Introduction. Biomedical laboratory science is a somewhat invisible profession. To identify research areas within biomedical laboratory science, could contribute to make the profession more visible. More research within biomedical laboratory science is important to evaluate new treatment techniques, establish evidence-based practice and improve patient treatment. This project is the second part of a study aiming at determining research priorities within biomedical laboratory sciences in Norway. In the first stage of this study (part 1), we mapped which themes biomedical laboratory scientists within medical biochemistry considered to be potential research areas. The themes that came up were linked to patient related challenges, organizational/psychosocial aspects, analyzing/quality assurance and the future of biomedical laboratory science. In this part of the study (part 2), we have moved on to investigate which research areas biomedical laboratory scientists in medical biochemistry consider most important. Material and methods. The Delphi – method was applied to establish consensus. Based on the earlier mapped research areas in part 1 of the study, as well as other studies, a questionnaire presenting 33 relevant research areas was developed. The questionnaire was distributed to 27 medical biochemistry laboratories. By using a Likert scale, the respondents graded the importance of the 33 areas related to the patient, collaboration with colleagues and biomedical science in generally, respectively. Results. In total 21 laboratories answered the questionnaire, giving a response rate of 77.8 %. The results show that research areas within the categories pre-analysis and analysis were ranked as most important. Some of the highest ranked research areas are to interpret other health professional’s procedural knowledge related to quality assurance and if other health professionals are conscious of the importance of pre-analytical variables. To strengthen the position of biomedical laboratory sciences and improve point-of-care testing were also considered to be relevant research areas

Molecular targeting of protein arginine deiminases to suppress colitis and prevent colon cancer

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease, in which the lining of the colon becomes inflamed and develops ulcers leading to abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. The extent of these symptoms depends on disease severity. The protein arginine deiminase (PAD) family of enzymes converts peptidyl-Arginine to peptidyl-Citrulline through citrullination. PADs are dysregulated, with abnormal citrullination in many diseases, including UC and colorectal cancer (CRC). We have developed the small molecule, pan-PAD inhibitor, Chlor-amidine (Cl-amidine), with multiple goals, including treating UC and preventing CRC. Building off our recent results showing that: 1) Cl-amidine suppresses colitis in vivo in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) mouse model; and 2) Cl-amidine induces microRNA (miR)-16 in vitro causing cell cycle arrest, we tested the hypothesis that Cl-amidine can prevent tumorigenesis and that miR-16 induction, by Cl-amidine, may be involved in vivo. Consistent with our hypothesis, we present evidence that Cl-amidine, delivered in the drinking water, prevents colon tumorigenesis in our mouse model of colitis-associated CRC where mice are given carcinogenic azoxymethane (AOM), followed by multiple cycles of 2% DSS to induce colitis. To begin identifying mechanisms, we examined the effects of Cl-amidine on miR-16. Results show miR-16 suppression during the colitis-to-cancer sequence in colon epithelial cells, which was rescued by drinking Cl-amidine. Likewise, Ki67 and cellular proliferation targets of miR-16 (Cyclins D1 and E1) were suppressed by Cl-amidine. The decrease in cell proliferation markers and increase in tumor suppressor miRNA expression potentially define a mechanism of how Cl-amidine is suppressing tumorigenesis in vivo

Electro-oxidation of cyanide on active and non-active anodes: Designing the electrocatalytic response of cobalt spinels

[EN] The feasibility of the electrochemical technologies for wastewater treatment greatly relies on the design of efficient but inexpensive electrocatalysts. It is generally accepted that the so-called ¿non-active¿ anodes (like the boron-doped diamond (BDD) or SnO2-based anodes), producing highly oxidizing hydroxyl radicals, are the most promising candidates for pollutants abatement. In this work, the electrocatalytic performance of various cobalt oxides, pure and doped with Cu or Au, for CN¿ oxidation has been studied and compared with that of conventional graphite, BDD, SnO2-Sb and SnO2-Sb-Pt. The metal oxide electrodes were prepared by thermal decomposition of the salt precursors onto Ti. For the M-doped Co3O4 electrodes, the nominal M/Co ratios were Cu/ Co=0.07¿1.00; and Au/Co=0.05¿0.20. The electrodes were characterized by different techniques (XRD, SEM, EDX, XPS) and their electrocatalytic response was studied by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic electrolysis in a H-type cell in aqueous 0.1M NaOH. The obtained results show that the nature of the dopant plays a key role on the electrocatalytic behavior of cobalt spinels. Thus, while Cu catalyzes the CN¿ electro-oxidation, Au declines it. This is explained by the fact that, unlike Au (which segregates as Au-rich particles), Cu is effectively incorporated into the spinel structure by forming a solid solution (CuxCo3-xO4). In this solid solution, atomic scale Cu(spinel)-CN¿ specific interactions occur to catalyze the reaction, whereas in segregated Au particles the oxidation is hindered probably by a too-strong adsorption of cyanide and/or its inaccessibility to oxide active sites. Electrolysis runs have revealed that ¿active¿ over-saturated Cu-doped spinels (Cu/Co=1.00) exhibit higher current efficiencies than conventional graphite and ¿non-active¿ BDD and SnO2-based anodes. Hence, we hereby demonstrate that an inexpensive ¿active¿ electrocatalyst can show even higher efficiency than the most powerful BDD anode. These results highlight the significance of anode design in the application of the electrochemical technique for wastewater treatment.Financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad and FEDER funds (MAT2016-76595-R, IJCI-2014-20012) is gratefully acknowledgedBerenguer, R.; Quijada, C.; La Rosa-Toro, A.; Morallón, E. (2019). Electro-oxidation of cyanide on active and non-active anodes: Designing the electrocatalytic response of cobalt spinels. Separation and Purification Technology. 208:42-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2018.05.024S425020