GPS analysis of a team competing in a national under 18 field hockey tournament

The purpose of this study was to utilise global-positioning system (GPS) technology to quantify the running demands of national under 18 field hockey players competing in a regional field hockey tournament. Ten male field hockey players (mean ± SD; age 17.2 ± 0.4 years; stature 178.1 ± 5.2 cm; body mass 78.8 ± 8.8 kg) playing in different positional groups as strikers, midfielders and defenders wore GPS units while competing in six matches over seven days at an under 18 national field hockey tournament. GPS enabled the measurement of total distance (TD), low-speed activity (LSA; 0 -14.9 km/hr), and high-speed running (HSR; ≥ 15 km/hr) distances in addition to distances over five velocity bands (≤ 5.9km.h-1; 6 – 10km.h-1; 10.1 – 14.9km.h-1; 15 – 24.6km.h-1; and ≥ 24.7km.h-1). Midfielders covered significantly higher TD and the highest LSA when compared to other positional groups. Strikers covered significantly higher HSR and the lowest LSA out of all positional groups. These results suggest that these playing positions are sufficiently different to warrant specialised position-specific conditioning training leading into a field hockey tournament. Therefore, training schedules, substitutions and intra-match recovery should be tailored by position, taking into account the needs of the individual players

Using Global Positioning System Analysis to Quantify the movement characteristics of sub elite rugby union players in training and Match Performance

Rugby Union (RU) involves various movement patterns (MP) which includes walking, jogging and sprinting. Substantial physiological differences exist between backs and forwards. The diversity of physiological requirements of each positional group results in a range of physiological stress experienced by players. Game demands and training loads needs to be quantified to maximize the physiological benefits of training an improve performance

Educating a culturally competent health workforce for Pasifika communities: A Wintec/K'aute Pasifika clinical partnership project

Introduction The connection between Wintec and K’aute Pasifika is long standing through health and education and the time is right for collaboration that lifts both organisations is the strongest possible partnership. Significant opportunity exists for Wintec’s CHASP/CSSHP and K’aute Pasifika to work together in developing innovative strategies to enhance opportunities for student engagement in the delivery of services offered through K’aute Pasifika and to evaluate these. Literature review Pacific Islanders typically have lower health status and life expectancy than other New Zealanders. Implementation of Māori initiatives are not always appropriate for Pasifika peoples and there is a need to develop Pacific-specific initiatives. Evidence suggests tailored teaching and learning interventions may be required to promote participation and academic success of underrepresented minority groups in New Zealand, such as Pasifika. However, the focus needs to be on more than just Pasifika students and also on increasing non-Pasifika student capacity to work with the Pasifika community in a culturally acceptable and competent manner. There is a consistent shortage of Pacific primary health care workers in New Zealand and Pasifika are underrepresented across all health occupations. The literature identifies a complex range of factors that may contribute to this including high levels of mobilization in the skilled professional workforce and blurring of boundaries. Student-led placements with Indigenous populations have been identified as a feasible and meaningful way of developing a workforce ready to serve Indigenous and minority populations. Method A mixed method study design incorporating Talanoa was implemented to address the following key objectives: 1. Map current Wintec student placement provision within K’aute Pasifika against regional population health needs 2. Identify educational opportunities available at K’aute Pasifika through consultation with K’aute Pasifika staff 3. In collaboration between Wintec and K’aute Pasifika, develop a 5-year strategic plan for enhancement of cultural competence of Wintec staff and students in working with Pasifika people Findings Our Talanoa identified three major themes through which current and potential student placements could be better understood: the student experience, vā/relationships, and transformation. The first theme, student experience, was divided into subthemes, which expressed how students are valued, quality experiences for students are important to K’aute Pasifika staff, cultural practices are significant in placements at K’aute Pasifika, authentic experiences and interprofessional practices are essential and readily occur at K’aute Pasifika. The second theme, vā/relationships, was conceptualised as a network, with K’aute Pasifika at the centre, surrounded by the relevant partnerships. Equally as important as who those partners were, was the connections and space - or vā - between them. The third theme, transformation, was divided into three sub-themes: growth, capacity for more, and workforce development. These themes were understood in the context of the health data to create a clearer picture of the health needs for the Pasifika community in Kirikiriroa/Hamilton. Recommendations A clear action plan for 2021 is outlined which was co-constructed and agreed between K’aute Pasifika and Wintec and derived from the Strategic Plan

Tools for faculty assessment of interdisciplinary competencies of healthcare students: an integrative review

Increasingly, interprofessional teamwork is required for the effective delivery of public health services in primary healthcare settings. Interprofessional competencies should therefore be incorporated within all health and social service education programs. Educational innovation in the development of student-led clinics (SLC) provides a unique opportunity to assess and develop such competencies. However, a suitable assessment tool is needed to appropriately assess student progression and the successful acquisition of competencies. This study adopts an integrative review methodology to locate and review existing tools utilized by teaching faculty in the assessment of interprofessional competencies in pre-licensure healthcare students. A limited number of suitable assessment tools have been reported in the literature, as highlighted by the small number of studies included. Findings identify use of existing scales such as the Interprofessional Socialization and Valuing Scale (ISVS) and the McMaster Ottawa Scale with Team Observed Structured Clinical Encounter (TOSCE) tools plus a range of other approaches, including qualitative interviews and escape rooms. Further research and consensus are needed for the development of teaching and assessment tools appropriate for healthcare students. This is particularly important in the context of interprofessional, community-partnered public health and primary healthcare SLC learning but will be of relevance to health students in a broad range of clinical learning contexts

GPS analysis of a team competing at a national Under 18 field hockey tournament. (Technical Specialist Support)

The purpose of this study was to utilise global-positioning system (GPS) technology to quantify the running demands of national Under 18 field hockey players competing in a regional field hockey tournament. Ten male players (mean ± SD; age 17.2 ± 0.4 years; stature 178.1 ± 5.2 cm; body mass 78.8 ± 8.8 kg) wore GPS units while competing in six matches over seven days at the 2018 New Zealand national under 18 field hockey tournament. GPS enabled the measurement of total distance (TD), low-speed activity (LSA; 0 -14.9 km/hr), and high-speed running (HSR; ≥ 15 km/hr) distances. Differences in running demands (TD, LSA, HSR) between positions were assessed using effect size and percent difference ± 90% confidence intervals. Midfielders covered the most TD and LSA per game and strikers the most HSR during the 6 matches. There were “very large” differences between strikers and midfielders for TD and LSA, strikers and defenders for LSA and HSR, and defenders and midfielders for LSA. These results suggest that these playing positions are sufficiently different to warrant specialised position-specific conditioning training leading into a field hockey tournament

Quantifying and Comparing the Physical Characteristics of Sub-Elite Level University Age Rugby Players from New Zealand and Japan

Objectives: To quantify and compare the physical characteristics of sub-elite university age rugby players from New Zealand and Japan. Methods: Fifty-seven athletes from New Zealand (n=28) and Japan (n=29) were assessed using a battery of standardised testing protocols to determine individual physical characteristics. Athletes were measured for height, weight, body composition (sum of 8 skinfolds), flexibility (sit and reach) muscular strength (Predicted 1RM back-squat and bench-press), muscular power (counter-movement jump and bench-throw), muscular endurance (60s pull-ups and push-ups), speed (10,20 and 40m sprint), change of direction speed (505 agility test), aerobic capacity (multi-stage shuttle run test) and repeated sprint ability (repeated sprint ability test). Results: The differences between the New Zealand and Japanese athletes are minimal. However, the New Zealand athletes tested significantly better (p < 0.05) than the Japanese athletes for flexibility (27.81 ± 7.27cm vs 13.15 ± 6.65cm) and 10m sprint speed (1.76 ± 0.08s vs 1.81 ± 0.08s). Japanese athletes tested significantly better (p < 0.05) than their New Zealand counterparts for counter-movement jump (72.91 ± 6.69cm vs 59.68 ± 7.77cm), bench-throw (1215.38 ± 218.14w vs 825.9 ± 209.45w), 60s push-up endurance (65.63 ± 16.68 vs 53.63 ± 12.87) and repeated sprint ability test difference (0.49 ± 0.3s vs 0.25 ± 0.07s). No significant differences were evident for all other measured variables. Conclusion: The physical characteristics of New Zealand and Japanese sub-elite university age rugby players are similar. However, the New Zealand athletes showcase superior 10m sprint speed and hamstring and lower back flexibility. The Japanese athletes showcased superior lower body power, upper body power, muscular endurance and repeated sprint abilities

Quantifying and Comparing the Physical Characteristics of Sub-Elite Level University Age Rugby Players from New Zealand and Japan

Objectives: To quantify and compare the physical characteristics of sub-elite university age rugby players from New Zealand and Japan. Methods: Fifty-seven athletes from New Zealand (n=28) and Japan (n=29) were assessed using a battery of standardised testing protocols to determine individual physical characteristics. Athletes were measured for height, weight, body composition (sum of 8 skinfolds), flexibility (sit and reach) muscular strength (Predicted 1RM back-squat and bench-press), muscular power (counter-movement jump and bench-throw), muscular endurance (60s pull-ups and push-ups), speed (10,20 and 40m sprint), change of direction speed (505 agility test), aerobic capacity (multi-stage shuttle run test) and repeated sprint ability (repeated sprint ability test). Results: The differences between the New Zealand and Japanese athletes are minimal. However, the New Zealand athletes tested significantly better (p < 0.05) than the Japanese athletes for flexibility (27.81 ± 7.27cm vs 13.15 ± 6.65cm) and 10m sprint speed (1.76 ± 0.08s vs 1.81 ± 0.08s). Japanese athletes tested significantly better (p < 0.05) than their New Zealand counterparts for counter-movement jump (72.91 ± 6.69cm vs 59.68 ± 7.77cm), bench-throw (1215.38 ± 218.14w vs 825.9 ± 209.45w), 60s push-up endurance (65.63 ± 16.68 vs 53.63 ± 12.87) and repeated sprint ability test difference (0.49 ± 0.3s vs 0.25 ± 0.07s). No significant differences were evident for all other measured variables. Conclusion: The physical characteristics of New Zealand and Japanese sub-elite university age rugby players are similar. However, the New Zealand athletes showcase superior 10m sprint speed and hamstring and lower back flexibility. The Japanese athletes showcased superior lower body power, upper body power, muscular endurance and repeated sprint abilities