Are work-integrated learning (WIL) students better equipped psychologically for work post-graduation than their non-work-integrated learning peers? Some initial findings from a UK university

Work-integrated learning (WIL) provides an opportunity to develop the skills, knowledge, competence, and experience, which increase employability and lead to more satisfying careers. Research indicates that WIL results in improved academic- and occupationally-related outcomes. However, there is a paucity of quantitative research examining the psychological impact of WIL. The study aimed to determine whether students who pursue WIL in the UK, differ significantly in terms of self-concept, self-efficacy, hope, study skills, motivation, and procrastination than students who have not participated in WIL. The methodology used a cross-sectional analysis of a large sample (n=716) of undergraduate students at the University of Huddersfield, UK. Results showed significant differences predominantly centred upon measures which pertain to students’ confidence in setting and attaining goals. The increased hope and confidence in goal attainment suggest that gaining work experience perhaps enhances the ability to set and achieve goals once in the work force. (Asia-Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education, 2013, 14(2), 117-125) Keywords: Employability; Psychological factors; Work-integrated learning; Placement; Confidence; Self estee

Self‐compassion, social functioning and chronic pain

Background: Chronic pain can have significant negative consequences for many areas of life, including social functioning and participation. Self‐compassion is becoming established as a factor which can promote psychological wellbeing, resilience and coping in the face of difficulties such as those presented by chronic pain. The available evidence suggests that higher levels of self‐compassion are associated with increased acceptance of pain, lower levels of negative affect, pain catastrophising and pain disability. Self‐compassion may, therefore, play a role in attenuating the impact of pain‐relevant events. However, there have been no studies to date which examine the role of self‐compassion on social functioning and participation in a chronic pain population. Method: An experimental vignette design was used to assess the influence of self‐compassion on affective, cognitive and behavioural responses to unpleasant self‐relevant events, which were manipulated across social context and pain relevance, in a chronic pain population (n=62). Results: Higher levels of self‐compassion were associated with lower intensities of negative affect (sadness, anxiety, anger and embarrassment), and a lower reported likelihood of avoidance, catastrophising and rumination in response to unpleasant pain‐ and self‐ relevant events. Individuals with higher levels of self‐compassion also reported higher levels of satisfaction with their social participation in general. Conclusions: Self‐compassion may be an important factor in developing resilience and promoting social engagement in a chronic pain population. Further research is indicated to better establish the process by which self‐compassion may maintain positive social functioning, whether selfcompassion can be increased in chronic pain patients, and if so whether these results can be replicated in real life circumstances

Post intensive care syndrome following cardiothoracic critical care: feasibility of a complex intervention

Objectives: To describe the long-term outcomes of cardiac intensive care unit patients and their primary caregivers, and to explore the feasibility of implementing a complex intervention, designed to support problems associated with post-intensive care syndrome and post-intensive care syndrome–family, in the year following discharge from the cardiac intensive care unit. Design: A complex multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme, delivered as a quality improvement initiative, in a single centre in the West of Scotland. Participants: Patients and their caregivers were invited to participate 12 weeks after hospital discharge. Twenty-seven patients and 23 caregivers attended the programme. Results: Over 90% of patients had problems in at least one quality of life domain at baseline, 41% of patients had symptoms of anxiety and 22% had symptoms of depression. During the baseline visit, caregiver strain was present in 20% of caregivers, 57% had symptoms of anxiety, and 35% had symptoms of depression. Distinct improvements in outcomes were seen in both patients and caregivers at 1-year follow-up. The programme was implemented, and iterative learning obtained about the content and the operationalization of the service, in order to understand feasibility. Conclusion: This small-scale quality improvement project has demonstrated that this complex multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme is feasible and appears to have positive implications for patients following discharge from the cardiac intensive care unit, and their caregivers

The Probiotics in Pregnancy Study (PiP Study): rationale and design of a double-blind randomised controlled trial to improve maternal health during pregnancy and prevent infant eczema and allergy

Quality data for breast milk samples. Description: Details of data recorded for quality control of breast milk samples. (PDF 30 kb

Age standardisation – an indigenous standard?

The study of inequities in health is a critical component of monitoring government obligations to uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples. In Aotearoa/New Zealand the indigenous Māori population has a substantially younger age structure than the non-indigenous population making it necessary to account for age differences when comparing population health outcomes. An age-standardised rate is a summary measure of a rate that a population would have if it had a standard age structure. Changing age standards have stimulated interest in the potential impact of population standards on disparities data and consequently on health policy

Ten-year mortality, disease progression, and treatment-related side effects in men with localised prostate cancer from the ProtecT randomised controlled trial according to treatment received

Background The ProtecT trial reported intention-to-treat analysis of men with localised prostate cancer randomly allocated to active monitoring (AM), radical prostatectomy, and external beam radiotherapy. Objective To report outcomes according to treatment received in men in randomised and treatment choice cohorts. Design, setting, and participants This study focuses on secondary care. Men with clinically localised prostate cancer at one of nine UK centres were invited to participate in the treatment trial comparing AM, radical prostatectomy, and radiotherapy. Intervention Two cohorts included 1643 men who agreed to be randomised and 997 who declined randomisation and chose treatment. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Analysis was carried out to assess mortality, metastasis and progression and health-related quality of life impacts on urinary, bowel, and sexual function using patient-reported outcome measures. Analysis was based on comparisons between groups defined by treatment received for both randomised and treatment choice cohorts in turn, with pooled estimates of intervention effect obtained using meta-analysis. Differences were estimated with adjustment for known prognostic factors using propensity scores. Results and limitations According to treatment received, more men receiving AM died of PCa (AM 1.85%, surgery 0.67%, radiotherapy 0.73%), whilst this difference remained consistent with chance in the randomised cohort (p = 0.08); stronger evidence was found in the exploratory analyses (randomised plus choice cohort) when AM was compared with the combined radical treatment group (p = 0.003). There was also strong evidence that metastasis (AM 5.6%, surgery 2.4%, radiotherapy 2.7%) and disease progression (AM 20.35%, surgery 5.87%, radiotherapy 6.62%) were more common in the AM group. Compared with AM, there were higher risks of sexual dysfunction (95% at 6 mo) and urinary incontinence (55% at 6 mo) after surgery, and of sexual dysfunction (88% at 6 mo) and bowel dysfunction (5% at 6 mo) after radiotherapy. The key limitations are the potential for bias when comparing groups defined by treatment received and changes in the protocol for AM during the lengthy follow-up required in trials of screen-detected PCa. Conclusions Analyses according to treatment received showed increased rates of disease-related events and lower rates of patient-reported harms in men managed by AM compared with men managed by radical treatment, and stronger evidence of greater PCa mortality in the AM group. Patient summary More than 95 out of every 100 men with low or intermediate risk localised prostate cancer do not die of prostate cancer within 10 yr, irrespective of whether treatment is by means of monitoring, surgery, or radiotherapy. Side effects on sexual and bladder function are better after active monitoring, but the risks of spreading of prostate cancer are more common

Functional and quality of life outcomes of localised prostate cancer treatments (prostate testing for cancer and treatment [ProtecT] study)

Objective To investigate the functional and quality of life (QoL) outcomes of treatments for localised prostate cancer and inform treatment decision-making. Patients and Methods Men aged 50–69 years diagnosed with localised prostate cancer by prostate-specific antigen testing and biopsies at nine UK centres in the Prostate Testing for Cancer and Treatment (ProtecT) trial were randomised to, or chose one of, three treatments. Of 2565 participants, 1135 men received active monitoring (AM), 750 a radical prostatectomy (RP), 603 external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) with concurrent androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) and 77 low-dose-rate brachytherapy (BT, not a randomised treatment). Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) completed annually for 6 years were analysed by initial treatment and censored for subsequent treatments. Mixed effects models were adjusted for baseline characteristics using propensity scores. Results Treatment-received analyses revealed different impacts of treatments over 6 years. Men remaining on AM experienced gradual declines in sexual and urinary function with age (e.g., increases in erectile dysfunction from 35% of men at baseline to 53% at 6 years and nocturia similarly from 20% to 38%). Radical treatment impacts were immediate and continued over 6 years. After RP, 95% of men reported erectile dysfunction persisting for 85% at 6 years, and after EBRT this was reported by 69% and 74%, respectively (P < 0.001 compared with AM). After RP, 36% of men reported urinary leakage requiring at least 1 pad/day, persisting for 20% at 6 years, compared with no change in men receiving EBRT or AM (P < 0.001). Worse bowel function and bother (e.g., bloody stools 6% at 6 years and faecal incontinence 10%) was experienced by men after EBRT than after RP or AM (P < 0.001) with lesser effects after BT. No treatment affected mental or physical QoL. Conclusion Treatment decision-making for localised prostate cancer can be informed by these 6-year functional and QoL outcomes

Does work integrated learning better psychologically prepare British students for life and work.

Work integrated learning (WIL) provides a plausible mechanism to develop the skills knowledge, competence, and experience (Bates, 2008; Boud & Falichikov, 2006; Collin & Tynjala, 2003; Crebert et al., 2004; Rhodes & Shiel, 2007), which increase employability and lead to more satisfying careers (Bates, 2008) in a competitive labour market (CBI/UUK, 2009). The occupational and academic impact of work integrated learning including better careers, salaries and degree outcomes are beginning to be established (Powell et al., 2008). In addition a range of personal skills and professional competencies have been cited as outcomes of work integrated learning, such as improved decision making, interpersonal and self management skills (Costley, 2007; Crebert et al., 2004), the application of theoretical knowledge in workplace environments, professional networking, professional behaviour, and leadership (Costley, 2007; Dreuth & Deuth-Fewell, 2002; Lizzio & Wilson, 2004; Rickard, 2002). However, the psychological outcomes of work integrated learning are not yet fully established or understood and have been contested by some (Allen & van der Velden, 2007). The impact of work integrated learning on traits such as hope, self efficacy and self concept have yet to be researched. Aims and Objectives In this emerging area of research interest, the aim of this study is an examination of the relationship between work integrated learning and the psychological variables believed to play an important role for graduate success in the subsequent transition to the labour market. The objectives of this project are to determine if there are significant psychological outcome differences in self-concept, self-efficacy, hope, procrastination, and study skills/work ethic between students who pursue WIL and students who pursue a more traditional degree programme. Methodology Using a cross sectional analysis of a large sample of undergraduate students at the University of Huddersfield. Undergraduates in all years of study, pursuing both traditional and WIL degrees, from all schools, will be invited to participate in the study. Demographic information including information regarding educational attainment, work related activity and subject area will be collected. In addition the following measures will be used: • Trait Hope Scale (THS: Snyder et al., 1991), which measures hopes and goals. • Procrastination Assessment Scale – Students (PASS: Solomon & Rothblum, 1984), which measures procrastination, the postponement of goals and tasks. • Self-Description Questionnaire III (SDQ-III: Marsh & O’Neill, 1984), which measures self-concept. • College Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (CASES: Owen & Froman, 1988), which measures the degree of confidence participants believe they have in various academic settings. • Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ: Pintrich, Smith, Garcia, & McKeachie, 1993), which measures study skills and motivation. Although the results unique to Huddersfield students will be presented in this session, the project itself is part of a much larger international comparative research study, designed and led by Drysdale et al. at the University of Waterloo (Canada) examining psychological outcomes on a global level. Other partners include University West (Sweden), University of Central Florida (USA), and Liverpool John Moores University (UK). Logistics of being involved in a large international project will be discussed. Conclusions As this study is a work-in-progress, results and conclusions will be available and submitted as part of the full paper in August