Research Competencies of Medical University Teachers: Evaluation, Perception, and Perspective

BACKGROUND: Research competence is one of the important competencies of a medical teacher. AIM: The aim of study was to evaluate the research competencies teachers (n = 90) by online questionnaires. METHODS: The questionnaire assessed transferable research skills, research-specific skills (research design, data collection, and analysis), research experience, attitude, and motivation to conduct research. RESULTS: About 55% of respondents are fully aware of the research activities at their university. Higher rates in transferred skills were established: Teamwork (average score 8/10: 55.5%), and ability to collect information (average score 8/10: 47.9%). Low general skills (project management and time management) are 15.6% and 12.2% of the teachers surveyed. Low indicators of specific research skills of biostatistics (average score 1/4–18.9%) and article submission (average score 1/4–13.2%) were revealed. Competence of male teachers is higher than that of women in their transmitted information collection skills (Z = 2.6, p = 0.008), evaluation of information (Z = 2.4, p = 0.015), and problem solving (Z = 2.3, p = 0.02). Specific research skills did not depend on the gender and affiliation to the department. Most teachers understood the term “research” as “the process of obtaining new knowledge,” and “experimenting and/or testing hypotheses.” Skills require improvement: Biostatistics skills, design definition, preparation of abstracts, and articles. Most respondents showed high motivation (71.1%) to conduct research. CONCLUSION: The research competencies of university teachers’ need to be improved. It is necessary to focus on the integration of special research skills in programs on all levels of education

Measures to support informal care for the older adults in Kazakhstan: a review of the current status

The demand for informal caregivers to support the older adults has grown worldwide in recent decades. However, informal caregivers themselves require support. This article aims to examine existing support measures for caregivers of the older adults in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Relevant articles and grey literature were identified through manual searches on Google and Google Scholar, as well as electronic searches using indexed databases like PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Moreover, the reference lists of identified sources and government ministry websites were meticulously scrutinized. This review highlights the scarcity of research on caregiver support measures in Kazakhstan, supported by the lack of peer-reviewed articles on this subject. A comprehensive analysis of the literature shows that in Kazakhstan’s legislative framework, “caregivers” exclusively refers to individuals providing care for a first-degree disability. The responsibility of caring for older adults parents lies with able-bodied children. However, there is a lack of registration and assessment procedures to evaluate the burden and quality of life of caregivers. As a result, the medical and social support provided to caregivers is standardized, failing to adequately address their unique needs and requirements. The analysis of current support measures for informal caregivers highlights the need to develop support mechanisms and recognize individuals providing informal care as key figures in the long-term care system