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Objectives. The study aimed to investigate the impact of skill-based maximal-intensity interval training on cardiovascular and muscular performance variables in male hockey players. Materials and methods. For this study, a group of 24 male hockey players were carefully selected. The participants were divided into two groups: SBT (n = 12) and CG (n = 12). A 12-week programme was carried out, comprising skill-specific, high-intensity interval training sessions that took place three times per week. Data was gathered prior to and following the study. The variables selected for evaluating consisted of a 20-meter, 30-meter, and 50-meter sprint, along with agility, speed endurance, and cardiovascular endurance. Pre and post data were subjected to statistical analyses. Results. The findings of statistical analyses indicate a significant positive impact due to performing the 12-week skill-based intensive training. The SBT group consistently demonstrated superior performance compared to the CG group. This was evident through their significantly faster completion times in distances of 20 m, 30 m, and 50 m, as well as their agility tasks. Additionally, the SBT group achieved higher scores in endurance measures. The effect sizes observed in the study were quite significant, indicating substantial differences between the groups. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that the CG group did not exhibit any marked changes from the pre-test to the post-test in any measure. Conclusions. After a period of 12 weeks, it has been observed that skill-based maximal-intensity interval training leads to significant improvements in both anaerobic and aerobic performance. This training is essential for athletes as they prepare for the end of the season. According to the study, it is recommended that hockey and other coaches focus their efforts on skill-based maximal-intensity interval training. While this study did not specifically assess technical abilities, it found that this training technique significantly enhanced physical performance. This research and training could prove advantageous for athletes and coaches who prioritise honing their skills.

This article emphasizes on the importance of skill-based training and multidisciplinary approach in the technical education. To ascertain the effectiveness of such concepts, the activities and projects carried out in IDEA (Idea, Development, Evaluation and Application) Lab established under AICTE-IDEA Lab Scheme are focused and discussed in this paper. After undergoing an experiential handson training on the machines and software's available, as the resources of IDEA Lab, eight interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary engineering projects were completed by the students under the facilitation of faculties called Technical Gurus. The methodology involved in carrying out two such projects are discussed in detail whilst the other projects are listed. From the accomplished projects, it is observed that the training imparted in IDEA Lab and the experiential learning certainly enhanced the acquisition of multidisciplinary skills in the students, which are essential in converting the Ideas into Prototypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractEmployers are placing increasing value on employee attributes often referred to as soft skills. While some curricula develop inherently discipline specific skills, other curricula emphasize global skill sets. Yet, the development of such global skills is often not directly linked to these valued soft skills. This article demonstrates a program developed at Louisiana State University of Alexandria (LSUA) that encourages the holistic education of students while enhancing their resumes and becoming more desirable for potential employers through skill-based trainings. These trainings are intentionally aligned with NACE identified career readiness competencies. This program also utilized micro-credentialing badging to encourage engagement and track completion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbon sequestration project is being implemented under the support of various international organizations aiming for reducing greenhouse gas emissions across developing countries. Mahalat County is one of the leading regions in Iran to implement this project. Despite the objective achievements, the current project has left many ecological, economic, social and psychological impacts in the study areas. Through a survey research method, the present study analyzed these impacts from the perspective of 105 experts. The results revealed that the sequestration project could significantly reduce the risk of runoff and flooding by implementing watershed management, grazing and desertification operations, and preventing soil erosion to an acceptable extent. By holding six skill-based training courses, the participants' job skills were improved to a desirable level, and simultaneously with the holding of these courses, 5 microcredit funds were also established, which provided the necessary economic support to start 49 businesses. By forming 22 development groups, the group members' social capital was improved to a good extent, especially in the dimension of social trust. In addition, as a result of holding skill-based training courses and organizing villagers into development groups, their attitude and behavior towards natural resources and environment improved. In general, the results indicated that the measures taken in the project had a significant impact on the formation of balanced sustainable development components, as well as achieving the goal of soil carbon sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the current study was determining the dimensions, components and factors affecting the quality of unit training in the Ground Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army (NEZAJA). The present study has been applied in terms of purpose and qualitative in terms of approach. The participants of the study were a number of 13experts in the training and education field of the army. The number of participants was determined based on the theoretical data. In order to collect data in the qualitative section, in addition to reviewing texts and documents, a semi-structured interview was used and in the quantitative section, The result of qualitative section analysis was 12 main categories and 68 sub-categories consisting, with 4 dimensions of unit training quality (timetable and content of the program - approach and method of training - space, facilities and equipment - training implementation)with 23 components and 8 factors affecting unit training (rules and Regulations - Human resource policies - Organizational culture - Organizational structure – teachers’ quality - Budget and credit - Evaluation system - Learning characteristics) with 45 sub-factors, was developed.

Skill-based training programs play a crucial role in enhancing economic sustainability in rural areas, particularly in regions like Nagpur District where agricultural and traditional livelihoods predominate. This empirical study investigates the effectiveness of skill-based training strategies and their impact on economic development within the rural communities of Nagpur. The research employs a mixedmethods approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with stakeholders involved in skill development initiatives and local economic activities. Quantitative data is collected through structured surveys administered to participants of skill training programs and local businesses in rural Nagpur. The surveys assess the perceived impact of skill development on income generation, employment opportunities, and overall economic growth. Qualitative insights are gathered through in-depth interviews with program coordinators, trainers, and community members to understand the challenges, successes, and strategic implications of skill-based training initiatives. These interviews explore factors influencing program effectiveness, community engagement, and sustainability of economic benefits. Findings from the study highlight the significant role of skill-based training in empowering rural residents, fostering entrepreneurship, and diversifying income sources beyond traditional agriculture. The research also identifies key success factors such as tailored training programs, effective community involvement, and access to markets that contribute to sustained economic development. This study contributes empirical evidence to the discourse on skill development strategies in rural economies, providing insights that can inform policy makers, development agencies, and local stakeholders in designing effective interventions for longterm economic sustainability in Nagpur's rural sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personalized care models are dominating modern medicine. These models are rooted in teaching future physicians the skill set to keep up with innovation. In orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery, education is increasingly influenced by augmented reality, simulation, navigation, robotics, and in some cases, artificial intelligence. The postpandemic learning environment has also changed, emphasizing online learning and skill- and competency-based teaching models incorporating clinical and bench-top research. Attempts to improve work–life balance and minimize physician burnout have led to work-hour restrictions in postgraduate training programs. These restrictions have made it particularly challenging for orthopedic and neurosurgery residents to acquire the knowledge and skill set to meet the requirements for certification. The fast-paced flow of information and the rapid implementation of innovation require higher efficiencies in the modern postgraduate training environment. However, what is taught typically lags several years behind. Examples include minimally invasive tissue-sparing techniques through tubular small-bladed retractor systems, robotic and navigation, endoscopic, patient-specific implants made possible by advances in imaging technology and 3D printing, and regenerative strategies. Currently, the traditional roles of mentee and mentor are being redefined. The future orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons involved in personalized surgical pain management will need to be versed in several disciplines ranging from bioengineering, basic research, computer, social and health sciences, clinical study, trial design, public health policy development, and economic accountability. Solutions to the fast-paced innovation cycle in orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery include adaptive learning skills to seize opportunities for innovation with execution and implementation by facilitating translational research and clinical program development across traditional boundaries between clinical and nonclinical specialties. Preparing the future generation of surgeons to have the aptitude to keep up with the rapid technological advances is challenging for postgraduate residency programs and accreditation agencies. However, implementing clinical protocol change when the entrepreneur–investigator surgeon substantiates it with high-grade clinical evidence is at the heart of personalized surgical pain management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionSeveral studies in developing countries found that more need-based training is required for health care providers (HCPs) in child malnutrition management.MethodsAn exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted to explore barriers to providing adequate nutrition care as perceived by the healthcare providers (HCPs) in the child malnutrition clinic at a Children's University Hospital in Egypt. Participants were selected using the purposive sampling technique. Five out of seven HCPs in the clinic were included (two male physicians, one female physician, and two female nurses). Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews. The interview guide consisted of semi-structured open-ended questions. Quantitative data were the resulting scores from the scoring system used to assess the understandability and actionability of the patient education materials (PEMs) that are available in the clinic. The Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Printable Materials (PEMAT-P) for the scoring. Statistical analysis: The thematic content analysis technique was employed for qualitative data. The percent score was generated for the PEM actionability and understandability for quantitative data.ResultsMost common child malnutrition conditions encountered by HCPs were nutritional deficiencies. Barriers to the delivery of adequate nutrition care to children were physician-centered: limited nutrition education in the medical school, health system-centered: an insufficient number of HCPs, lack of nutritional supplements, lack of patient education materials (PEMs) that suit the characteristics of the served community, lack of updated standard of practice (SOP) and guidelines, inadequate nutrition training of HCPs, and insufficient time for each patient, and caregivers-centered: the low socioeconomic status and false cultural, nutritional beliefs.ConclusionThere are different barriers to adequate nutrition care for child malnutrition in low-resource healthcare settings. Mainly nutritional deficiencies. Most of the barriers were health system-related in the form of insufficient resources (shortage of workforce; concerning the high caseload, nutritional supplements, and PEMs) and inadequate management of resources (lack of skill-based training, lack of updated SOP and guidelines, and lack of properly designed PEMs that facilitate communication with the target caregivers).

There is growing awareness about the use of combined strength- and skill-based swallowing training for improving swallowing physiology in the event of dysphagia. Such an approach involves focusing on coordination and timing as well as swallowing strengthening in the context of increased exercise complexity in eating and drinking activities. This study aimed to determine the early feasibility of a newly developed 12-week intervention, named the ACT-ING program (ACTivity-based strength and skill training of swallowing to improve INGestion), in older adults with dysphagia and generalized sarcopenia. In a multiple-case-study design, seven participants above 65 years of age (five women and two men) with slight to severe dysphagia and indications of sarcopenia underwent the intervention during hospitalization and in the community after discharge. The ACT-ING program met most of the feasibility marks in terms of demand (73.3% of those invited accepted participation), safety (100%), no reports of adverse events, tolerance (85.7%), usability (100%), and acceptability (100%). Three putative mediators of change (experienced autonomy support, in-therapy engagement, and perceived improvement in swallowing capacity) appeared to have been best accomplished in participants with slight to moderate dysphagia. The ACT-ING program showed preliminary evidence of early feasibility, warranting further early-phase dose articulation and proof-of-concept trials.

The main goal was to determine anaerobic and aerobic improvement of young soccer players after six-week high volume (HVT) or small sided games (SSG) training intervention. One hundred and one highly trained youth soccer players (16.2 ± 1.3 years) were divided into SSG (n = 51) and HVT groups (n = 50) and according to age into an under sixteen subgroup (U16), under seventeen subgroup (U17), and under nineteen subgroup (U19). The performance was assessed by Yo-Yo intermittent test, Repeated sprint ability test (RSA), and K-test before and after both training interventions. For U16 the SSG group recorded significant improvements in the K-test (0.64 ± 0.56 s; p = .04) and RSA (0.15 ± 0.43 s; p = .01). For U19 the SSG group recorded the same improvements, in the K-test (0.43 ± 0.57 s; p = .007), RSA (0.21 ± 0.22 s; p = .048), and Yo-Yo test (127.25 ± 17.87; p = .049). HVT improved aerobic performance when the Yo-Yo test was significantly better after intervention at U17 (199.00 ± 111.83 m; p = .030), U19 (88.40 ± 66.38 m; p = .049). In total, the HVT group spent 621 min (56.45 ± 5.01 min) of aerobic training and the Small sided game group spent 291 min (26.45 ± 8.61 min) of small sided games focused on aerobic performance. This study showed that both SSG and HVT training interventions were effective for aerobic improvement for the U19 category, but not for younger players. SSG was identified to be more appropriate to fitness development of soccer players.

The main goal was to determine anaerobic and aerobic improvement of young soccer players after six-week high volume (HVT) or small sided games (SSG) training intervention. One hundred and one highly trained youth soccer players (16.2 ± 1.3 years) were divided into SSG (n = 51) and HVT groups (n = 50) and according to age into an under sixteen subgroup (U16), under seventeen subgroup (U17), and under nineteen subgroup (U19). The performance was assessed by Yo-Yo intermittent test, Repeated sprint ability test (RSA), and K-test before and after both training interventions. For U16 the SSG group recorded significant improvements in the K-test (0.64 ± 0.56 s; p = .04) and RSA (0.15 ± 0.43 s; p = .01). For U19 the SSG group recorded the same improvements, in the K-test (0.43 ± 0.57 s; p = .007), RSA (0.21 ± 0.22 s; p = .048), and Yo-Yo test (127.25 ± 17.87; p = .049). HVT improved aerobic performance when the Yo-Yo test was significantly better after intervention at U17 (199.00 ± 111.83 m; p = .030), U19 (88.40 ± 66.38 m; p = .049). In total, the HVT group spent 621 min (56.45 ± 5.01 min) of aerobic training and the Small sided game group spent 291 min (26.45 ± 8.61 min) of small sided games focused on aerobic performance. This study showed that both SSG and HVT training interventions were effective for aerobic improvement for the U19 category, but not for younger players. SSG was identified to be more appropriate to fitness development of soccer players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe the development of a dysphagia management intervention for elders with sarcopenic oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD). The intervention development was guided by the UK Medical Research Council framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions. The steps included identification of the problem theory, the evidence base, the theory underpinning the intervention, the expected change mechanisms and a first draft of an intervention manual. This involved literature reviews and involvement of stakeholders, experts, and members of the target group. A manualized client-centered and activity-based intervention that integrates functional resistance training of skills essential for a safe and efficient swallowing during ingestion of daily meals was developed for elders with sarcopenic OD. The intervention is informed by occupational therapy theory, self-determination theory, motor learning and affordance theory, and international standards for OD diets. The development steps resulted in a multicomponent intervention ready for feasibility testing before examining intervention efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Depression affects over 400 million people globally. The majority are seen in primary care. Barriers in providing adequate care are not solely related to physicians’ knowledge/skills deficits, but also time constraints, lack of confidence/avoidance, which need to be addressed in mental health-care redesign. We hypothesized that family physician (FP) training in the Adult Mental Health Practice Support Program (AMHPSP) would lead to greater improvements in patient depressive symptom ratings (a priori primary outcome) compared to treatment as usual. Methods From October 2013 to May 2015, in a controlled trial 77 FP practices were stratified on the total number of physicians/practice as well as urban/rural setting, and randomized to the British Columbia AMHPSP⎯a multi-component contact-based training to enhance FPs’ comfort/skills in treating mild-moderate depression (intervention), or no training (control) by an investigator not operationally involved in the trial. FPs with a valid license to practice in NS were eligible. FPs from both groups were asked to identify 3–4 consecutive patients > 18 years old, diagnosis of depression, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score ≥ 10, able to read English, intact cognitive functioning. Exclusion criteria: antidepressants within 5 weeks and psychotherapy within 3 months of enrollment, and clinically judged urgent/emergent medical/psychiatric condition. Patients were assigned to the same arm as their physician. Thirty-six practices recruited patients (intervention n = 23; control n = 13). The study was prematurely terminated at 6 months of enrollment start-date due to concomitant primary health-care transformation by health-system leaders which resulted in increased in-office demands, and recruitment failure. We used the PHQ-9 to assess between-group differences at baseline, 1, 2, 3, and 6 months follow-up. Outcome collectors and assessors were blind to group assignment. Results One hundred-and-twenty-nine patients (intervention n = 72; control n = 57) were analysed. A significant improvement in depression scores among intervention group patients emerged between 3 and 6 months, time by treatment interaction, likelihood ratio test (LR) chi2(3) = 7.96, p = .047. Conclusions This novel skill-based program shows promise in translating increased FP comfort and skills managing depressed patients into improved patient clinical outcomes⎯even in absence of mental health specialists availability. Trial registration #NCT01975948.

Background. Endoscopic surgeries have become an alternative for open procedures whenever possible. For such types of operations, surgeons are required to gain several skills, whose development needs hands-on practice. Accordingly, gaining these skills today is a challenge for surgical education programs. Despite the development of several technology-enhanced training environments, there are still problems to better integrate these technologies into educational programs. For an appropriate integration, it is critical to assess the skill levels and adapt the training content according to the trainees' requirements. In the literature, there exist several methods for assessing these skill levels. However, there are still problems in practice for objective and repetitive assessment. Methods. The present study aims to estimate the skill levels of participants in surgical training programs in an objective manner by collecting experimental data from residents in an endoscopic surgical simulation environment and gathering performance metrics. Results. It is shown that, by comparing the results of a number of classification algorithms for the best accuracy estimation and feature set, the "novice" and "intermediate" skill levels can be estimated with an accuracy of 86%. Conclusions. The outcomes help surgical educators and instructional system designers to better assess the skill levels of the trainees and guide them accordingly. In addition, objective assessments as highlighted in this study can be beneficial when designing technology-enhanced adaptive learning environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Most interventions to reduce stigma in health professionals emphasize education and social contact-based strategies. We sought to evaluate a novel skill-based approach: the British Columbia Adult Mental Health Practice Support Program. We sought to determine the program's impact on primary care providers' stigma and their perceived confidence and comfort in providing care for mentally ill patients. We hypothesized that enhanced skills and increased comfort and confidence on the part of practitioners would lead to diminished social distance and stigmatization. Subsequently, we explored the program's impact on clinical outcomes and health care costs. These outcomes are reported separately, with reference to this article.Methods: In a double-blind, cluster randomized controlled trial, 111 primary care physicians were assigned to intervention or control groups. A validated stigma assessment tool, the Opening Minds Scale for Health Care Providers (OMS-HC), was administered to both groups before and after training. Confidence and comfort were assessed using scales constructed from ad hoc items.Results: In the primary analysis, no significant differences in stigma were found. However, a subscale assessing social distance showed significant improvement in the intervention group after adjustment for a variable (practice size) that was unequally distributed in the randomization. Significant increases in confidence and comfort in managing mental illness were observed among intervention group physicians. A positive correlation was found between increased levels of confidence/comfort and improvements in overall stigma, especially in men.Conclusions: This study provides some preliminary evidence of a positive impact on health care professionals' stigma through a skill-building approach to management of mild to moderate depression and anxiety in primary care. The intervention can be used as a primary vehicle for enhancing comfort and skills in health care providers and, ultimately, reducing an important dimension of stigma: preference for social distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals who are higher in subjective well-being not only feel happier, they are more likely have fulfilling relationships, increased work performance and income, better physical health, and longer lives. Over the past several decades, the science of subjective well-being has produced insights into these benefits of happiness, and—recognizing their importance—has begun to examine the factors that lead to greater well-being, from cultivating strong relationships to pursuing meaningful goals. However, studies to date have typically focused on improving subjective well-being by intervening with singular constructs, using primarily college student populations, and were short-term in nature. Moreover, little is understood about the impact of a well-being treatment delivered online vs. in-person. In the present article, we describe a comprehensive intervention program including 3-month initial treatment followed by a 3-month follow-up, ENHANCE: En during H appiness an d C ontinued Self- E nhancement. One-hundred and sixty participants will be recruited from two different sites to participate in one of two versions of ENHANCE: in-person (n = 30) vs. wait-list control (n = 30); or online (n = 50) vs. wait-list control (n = 50). Assessments will be completed at baseline, three months and six months. Our primary outcome is change in subjective well-being across treatment (3 months) and follow-up (6 months). Secondary outcomes include self-report and objective measures of health, as well as a psychological mediators (e.g., psychological needs) and moderators (e.g., personality) of treatment outcomes. We hope to provide researchers, practitioners, and individuals with an evidence-based treatment to improve happiness and subjective well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing awareness about the use of combined strength- and skill-based swallowing training for improving swallowing physiology in the event of dysphagia. Such an approach involves focusing on coordination and timing as well as swallowing strengthening in the context of increased exercise complexity in eating and drinking activities. This study aimed to determine the early feasibility of a newly developed 12-week intervention, named the ACT-ING program (ACTivity-based strength and skill training of swallowing to improve INGestion), in older adults with dysphagia and generalized sarcopenia. In a multiple-case-study design, seven participants above 65 years of age (five women and two men) with slight to severe dysphagia and indications of sarcopenia underwent the intervention during hospitalization and in the community after discharge. The ACT-ING program met most of the feasibility marks in terms of demand (73.3% of those invited accepted participation), safety (100%), no reports of adverse events, tolerance (85.7%), usability (100%), and acceptability (100%). Three putative mediators of change (experienced autonomy support, in-therapy engagement, and perceived improvement in swallowing capacity) appeared to have been best accomplished in participants with slight to moderate dysphagia. The ACT-ING program showed preliminary evidence of early feasibility, warranting further early-phase dose articulation and proof-of-concept trials., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analysis, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Introduction: Several studies in developing countries found that more need-based training is required for health care providers (HCPs) in child malnutrition management., Methods: An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted to explore barriers to providing adequate nutrition care as perceived by the healthcare providers (HCPs) in the child malnutrition clinic at a Children's University Hospital in Egypt. Participants were selected using the purposive sampling technique. Five out of seven HCPs in the clinic were included (two male physicians, one female physician, and two female nurses). Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews. The interview guide consisted of semi-structured open-ended questions. Quantitative data were the resulting scores from the scoring system used to assess the understandability and actionability of the patient education materials (PEMs) that are available in the clinic. The Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Printable Materials (PEMAT-P) for the scoring. Statistical analysis: The thematic content analysis technique was employed for qualitative data. The percent score was generated for the PEM actionability and understandability for quantitative data., Results: Most common child malnutrition conditions encountered by HCPs were nutritional deficiencies. Barriers to the delivery of adequate nutrition care to children were physician-centered: limited nutrition education in the medical school, health system-centered: an insufficient number of HCPs, lack of nutritional supplements, lack of patient education materials (PEMs) that suit the characteristics of the served community, lack of updated standard of practice (SOP) and guidelines, inadequate nutrition training of HCPs, and insufficient time for each patient, and caregivers-centered: the low socioeconomic status and false cultural, nutritional beliefs., Conclusion: There are different barriers to adequate nutrition care for child malnutrition in low-resource healthcare settings. Mainly nutritional deficiencies. Most of the barriers were health system-related in the form of insufficient resources (shortage of workforce; concerning the high caseload, nutritional supplements, and PEMs) and inadequate management of resources (lack of skill-based training, lack of updated SOP and guidelines, and lack of properly designed PEMs that facilitate communication with the target caregivers)., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elhady, Ibrahim, Abbas, Tawfik, Hussein and Salem.)

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a leading cause of functional limitations and disability for which there is no cure. Positive psychological interventions for improving health have received increasing attention, but evidence of the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of such interventions in adult populations with FMS is limited. To describe the rationale and design of a 5-week, online positive affect skills intervention, LARKSPUR: Lessons in Affect Regulation to Keep Stress and Pain UndeR control. FMS participants (N = 90) will be randomized to one of two conditions: (1) LARKSPUR or (2) emotion reporting/attention control. LARKSPUR is an online multicomponent intervention that targets eight skills to help foster positive affect: (1) noticing positive events, (2) savoring positive events, (3) identifying personal strengths, (4) behavioral activation to set and work toward attainable goals, (5) mindfulness, (6) positive reappraisal, (7) gratitude, and (8) acts of kindness. The primary outcomes include feasibility (i.e., recruitment, retention, adherence) and acceptability (i.e., helpfulness, usability, satisfaction). Secondary outcomes include pain intensity and pain interference. If feasibility and acceptability metrics are met and reductions in pain outcomes are achieved, we will undertake future efficacy and effectiveness trials of LARKSPUR among older adults with FMS. Trial Registration : NCT04869345. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Existing health informatics curriculum requirements mostly use a competency-based approach rather than a skill-based one., Objective: The main objective of this study was to assess the current skills training requirements in graduate health informatics curricula to evaluate graduate students' confidence in specific health informatics skills., Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional observational study was developed to evaluate published health informatics curriculum requirements and to determine the comprehensive health informatics skill sets required in a research university in New York, United States. In addition, a questionnaire to assess students' confidence about specific health informatics skills was developed and sent to all enrolled and graduated Master of Science students in a health informatics program., Results: The evaluation was performed in a graduate health informatics program, and analysis of the students' self-assessments questionnaire showed that 79.4% (81/102) of participants were not confident (not at all confident or slightly confident) about developing an artificial intelligence app, 58.8% (60/102) were not confident about designing and developing databases, and 54.9% (56/102) were not confident about evaluating privacy and security infrastructure. Less than one-third of students (24/105, 23.5%) were confident (extremely confident and very confident) that they could evaluate the use of data capture technologies and develop mobile health informatics apps (10/102, 9.8%)., Conclusions: Health informatics programs should consider specialized tracks that include specific skills to meet the complex health care delivery and market demand, and specific training components should be defined for different specialties. There is a need to determine new competencies and skill sets that promote inductive and deductive reasoning from diverse and various data platforms and to develop a comprehensive curriculum framework for health informatics skills training., (©A Hasan Sapci, H Aylin Sapci. Originally published in JMIR Medical Informatics (http://medinform.jmir.org), 21.01.2020.)

Background: Depression affects over 400 million people globally. The majority are seen in primary care. Barriers in providing adequate care are not solely related to physicians' knowledge/skills deficits, but also time constraints, lack of confidence/avoidance, which need to be addressed in mental health-care redesign. We hypothesized that family physician (FP) training in the Adult Mental Health Practice Support Program (AMHPSP) would lead to greater improvements in patient depressive symptom ratings (a priori primary outcome) compared to treatment as usual. Methods: From October 2013 to May 2015, in a controlled trial 77 FP practices were stratified on the total number of physicians/practice as well as urban/rural setting, and randomized to the British Columbia AMHPSP⎯a multi-component contact-based training to enhance FPs' comfort/skills in treating mild-moderate depression (intervention), or no training (control) by an investigator not operationally involved in the trial. FPs with a valid license to practice in NS were eligible. FPs from both groups were asked to identify 3–4 consecutive patients > 18 years old, diagnosis of depression, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score ≥ 10, able to read English, intact cognitive functioning. Exclusion criteria: antidepressants within 5 weeks and psychotherapy within 3 months of enrollment, and clinically judged urgent/emergent medical/psychiatric condition. Patients were assigned to the same arm as their physician. Thirty-six practices recruited patients (intervention n = 23; control n = 13). The study was prematurely terminated at 6 months of enrollment start-date due to concomitant primary health-care transformation by health-system leaders which resulted in increased in-office demands, and recruitment failure. We used the PHQ-9 to assess between-group differences at baseline, 1, 2, 3, and 6 months follow-up. Outcome collectors and assessors were blind to group assignment. Results: One hundred-and-twenty-nine patients (intervention n = 72; control n = 57) were analysed. A significant improvement in depression scores among intervention group patients emerged between 3 and 6 months, time by treatment interaction, likelihood ratio test (LR) chi2(3) = 7.96, p =.047. Conclusions: This novel skill-based program shows promise in translating increased FP comfort and skills managing depressed patients into improved patient clinical outcomes⎯even in absence of mental health specialists availability. Trial registration: #NCT01975948. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]