Improving the LGBTQ2S+ cultural competency of healthcare trainees: Advancing health professional education.

Background: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, and Two-spirit (LGBTQ2S+) populations experience worse health outcomes compared to age-matched heterosexual and cisgender peers. Health professionals’ deficient knowledge and negative attitudes can contribute to these inequities. Healthcare trainees report insufficient LGBTQS2+ cultural competence training. Methods: In this prospective, mixed-methods pre-post design, Atlantic Canadian health students were tested on knowledge, attitudes and self-reported behaviours towards LGBTQ2S+ populations in healthcare settings. Assessment included psychometric measurements and clinical cases involving normative and non-normative fictional patients. Participants were randomised to intervention or control groups. The intervention consisted of three training sessions lead by LGBTQ2S+ experts and elders from the community. The control group continued with usual training. Full assessment was repeated after training. We also held focus group discussions with students and faculty. Results: The intervention group significantly improved attitudes toward and knowledge of LGBTQ2S+ populations and changed relevant aspects of their performance in the simulated clinical situations. Focus groups identified key gaps in current local training. Conclusions: Integrating specific training related to LGBTQ2S+ health within health professions programs is an important step toward improving these populations’ accessibility to a competent, exhaustive and nurturing healthcare. Additional research on innovative means to expand and broaden the scope of our training is warranted.

CAN AN INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS EXPLAIN THE CONVERGENCE OF EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF COUNTRIES?

В ряде работ было продемонстрировано, что в настоящее время, согласно результатам международных исследований, страны мира сближаются друг с другом по образовательным достижениям, рассматриваемым некоторыми авторами как индикатор когнитивной способности населения. Данное явление может быть объяснено притоком иммигрантов, более интенсивным в благополучных странах, характеризующихся высокими образовательными достижениями. Для проверки этого предположения был проведен дифференцированный анализ данных коренного населения стран и иммигрантов; показателем сближения стран служила отрицательная корреляция между исходным уровнем и динамикой образовательных достижений. Его результаты показали, что феномен не может быть, по крайней мере целиком, объяснен притоком иммигрантов: страны сближались не только по достижениям всех участников, но и по достижениям коренного населения, причем значения показателя сближения мало отличались. Анализ данных коренного населения выявил, что конвергенция стран происходила в большей мере за счет снижения достижений коренного населения в странах с изначально высоким их уровнем. В то время как снижение в таких странах продолжается, число стран с изначально низкими достижениями и повысившими их сокращается. Это привело к тому, что процесс сближения стран в самые последние годы замедлился. Направление динамики образовательных достижений стран, характеризующихся ее устойчивостью, в целом соответствует направлению изменения уровня интеллекта населения этих стран по данным исследований эффекта Флинна на материале психометрических измерений. Устойчивой отрицательной динамикой образовательных достижений характеризуются некоторые европейские или населенные преимущественно выходцами из Европы страны. Россия характеризуется устойчивой положительной динамикой этих достижений. Some studies have shown that the countries’ results obtained in international studies of educational achievement viewed by some authors as an indicator of the cognitive ability of the population are now drawing closer. This convergence can be explained by the influx of immigrants, more intense in prosperous countries with high educational achievements. To verify this explanation, a differentiated analysis of the data of the indigenous population of countries and immigrants was carried out; a negative correlation between the initial level and the dynamics of educational achievements was used as an indicator of rapprochement of countries. Its results showed that the convergence of countries cannot be explained, at least entirely, by the influx of immigrants: the countries converged not only on the achievements of all participants, but also on the achievements of the indigenous population, and the values of the convergence indicator did not differ much. An analysis of the data of the indigenous population revealed that the convergence of countries was largely due to a decrease in the achievements of the indigenous population in countries with initially high level. While the decline in such countries continues, the number of countries with initially low achievements and those that have increased them is decreasing, which leads to a decrease in the rate of convergence of countries. The direction of the dynamics of the educational achievements of countries characterized by the stability of this dynamics, in general, corresponds to the direction of the change in the level of intelligence of the populations of these countries according to studies of the Flynn effect on the material of psychometric measurements. The stable negative dynamics of educational achievements characterize by some European or European-populated countries. Russia is characterized by stable positive dynamics of these achievements.

Acute and Chronic Mental Stress both Influence Levels of Neurotransmitter Precursor Amino Acids and Derived Biogenic Amines

Acute and chronic mental stress are both linked to somatic and psychiatric morbidity, however, the neurobiological pathways of these associations are still not fully elucidated. Mental stress is known to be immunomodulatory, which is one of the basic concepts of psychoneuroimmunology. In the present study, neurotransmitter precursor amino acid levels and derived biogenic amines were analyzed prior to and at 0, 30 and 60 min following an acute mental stress test (with/without chronic mental stress) in 53 healthy subjects. Psychometric measurements of mental stress, depression and anxiety were collected. Kynurenine/tryptophan was influenced by the factor acute mental stress (KYN/TRP increase), no influence of the factor chronic mental stress or any interaction was found. Phenylalanine/tyrosine was influenced by the factor acute mental stress (PHE/TYR increase) as well as by chronic mental stress (PHE/TYR decrease). Interactions were not significant. KYN/TRP correlated with state anxiety values, while PHE/TYR correlated negatively with chronic stress parameters. Kynurenic acid was significantly reduced in the acute and quinolinic acid in the chronic mental stress condition. In conclusion, neurotransmitter precursor amino acid levels and derived biogenic amines are influenced by acute and chronic mental stress. Mechanisms beyond direct immunological responses may be relevant for the modulation of neurotransmitter metabolism such as effects on enzyme function through cofactor availability or stress hormones.

Differential Item Functioning on Raven’s SPM+ Amongst Two Convenience Samples of Yakuts and Russians

National IQ estimates are based on psychometric measurements carried out in a variety of cultural contexts and are often obtained from Raven’s Progressive Matrices tests. In a series of studies, J. Philippe Rushton et al. have argued that these tests are not biased with respect to ethnicity or race. Critics claimed their methods were inappropriate and suggested differential item functioning (DIF) analysis as a more suitable alternative. In the present study, we conduct a DIF analysis on Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices Plus (SPM+) tests administered to convenience samples of Yakuts and ethnic Russians. The Yakuts scored lower than the Russians by 4.8 IQ points, a difference that can be attributed to the selectiveness of the Russian sample. Data from the Yakut (n = 518) and Russian (n = 956) samples were analyzed for DIF using logistic regression. Although items B9, B10, B11, B12, and C11 were identified as having uniform DIF, all of these DIF effects can be regarded as negligible (R2 <0.13). This is consistent with Rushton et al.’s arguments that the Raven’s Progressive Matrices tests are ethnically unbiased.

Development and validation of an organisational commitment instrument for generation Y employees in small and medium-sized enterprises in Thailand

Purpose Organisational commitment (OC) has become a hot behavioural topic among researchers, scholars and consulting firms. However, OC instruments have rarely been studied and developed by academics in small and medium-sized Thai enterprises (SMEs). The purpose of this paper is to develop an instrument to measure the OC of Generation Y employees in Thai SMEs. Design/methodology/approach A measurement scale for OC was established in three stages. First, 16 questions were developed as a questionnaire based on the concepts and theories of OC, and a survey was conducted for 360 Generation Y employees working in various SMEs. Second, the questions were validated using exploratory factor analysis and, finally, confirmatory factor analysis and convergent validity were tested. Findings The OC instrument presented excellent reliability at 0.865. Three factors of the 16 questions as normative commitment, affective commitment and continuance commitment were extracted. These all passed the general rule of thumb for minimum acceptability of a measurement system. Originality/value This OC instrument has concrete psychometric measurements and can be applied by researchers, scholars, practitioners and organisations in other settings, especially in the Thai context. Importantly, factor analysis results suggested that the OC questionnaire was suitable for utilisation and application as is, or with minimal modifications, to various business fields and/or settings.

The role of creativity in graduate education according to students and professors

The aim of this research was to examine the role of creativity in the context of graduate studies from the perspective of students and professors. Semi-structured interviews were held with six students and six postgraduate professors from both a private and a public university. The topics covered included relevance, conception, and characteristics of creativity, as well as educational practices that foster and inhibit creativity. Grounded Theory was used to analyze the data. Both students and professors considered creativity as fundamental for the development of graduate education, but both have indicated personal and institutional barriers for the promotion of creative thinking. Partnerships, teamwork, different teaching strategies and interdisciplinarity were pointed out as factors that enhance creativity. On the other hand, the participants mentioned the evaluation of postgraduate programs, repetitive classes and bureaucracy as barriers to creativity. Future studies, involving classroom observation, case studies, and psychometric measurements, are suggested.

Design and validation of an anatomically based assessment scale for handwashing with alcohol-based hand rub

An anatomically based assessment scale of handwashing quality with alcohol-based hand rub was designed. Contents of the scale divided each hand into 40 zones. Psychometric measurements were studied in 30 participants (120 hand sides). The scale was both valid (Cronbach α: 0·83 dorsal side and 0·73 palmar side) and reproducible (linear regression R2, 0·91; intraclass correlation coefficient, 0·99).

Genetic and psychosocial factors for benzodiazepine addiction. An analysis based on the results of the authors’ own research conducted in a group of benzodiazepine addicted and non-addicted individuals

Purpose: In spite of the fact that the addictive potential of benzodiazepine (BDZ) drugs has been known for a long time, benzodiazepine addiction remains a common problem for psychiatry to deal with. The etiology of benzodiazepine addiction is very complex. Among the risk factors, the course of the treatment, demographic status and psychological features of a patient seem to play an important role. The aim of this study was to investigate both psychological and genetic factors differentiating benzodiazepine addicts from non-addicted users.Methods: We analysed a cohort of 120 individuals treated with benzodiazepines divided into two groups: benzodiazepine addicts and non-addicted benzodiazepine users (the control group). In both groups we measured genetic polymorphisms of GABA A2 and MAOA. In both groups some psychometric measurements were performed – we investigated the level of depression, anxiety as a state and as a trait, personality features and the dominant coping style using the Beck Depression Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Five-Factor Personality Inventory NEO-FFI and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations [4,10,17,36,41,44].Results: There are some psychological and situational risk factors for benzodiazepine addiction such as high neuroticism, introversion and lack of the ability to release tension through interpersonal contacts, dominance of emotional coping style and high accumulation of critical life events during both childhood and adulthood. The genetic background still remains a field for further exploration.