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Objective Students in health profession education programs were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic at both didactic and clinical training levels. The purpose for this American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP BOC) study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on graduates. This study represents the perspectives of laboratory professional graduates who sat for the BOC certification in their respective professional disciplines. Methods A survey was sent to all graduates from the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS), Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), and Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited programs who sat for the ASCP BOC examination in 2020 and 2021 to determine the impact of COVID-19 on laboratory professional graduates during the pandemic. Results A total of 180 graduates responded to the survey. The majority of graduates indicated that at least 1 didactic program component was shifted to an online system during the pandemic and that both clinical and nonclinical student laboratories were affected. Although program completion for most graduates was not delayed, one-third of graduates delayed taking their respective BOC exam. Due to the lack of knowledge application through practical hands-on laboratory experience in their educational programs, graduates reported feeling a lack of readiness with regards to preparing for the national certification examination as well as for employment. Conclusion The study results showed the pandemic greatly impacted the education experience and readiness for the ASCP BOC examinations for graduates. Factors such as the absence of in-person learning and hands-on experience—both crucial aspects in laboratory training—and the ripple effects as a result of the pandemic, such as job loss, financial constraints, and health concerns, contributed to the decreased quality of education for graduates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Health professions education programs were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic at clinical and didactic training levels. The purpose for this American Society for Clinical Pathology–Board of Certification (BOC) study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the graduates who sat for BOC certification in their respective professional disciplines from the perspective of program directors (PDs). A separate article will be published on the graduates' perspective. Methods A survey was sent to all PDs from the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science, Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, and Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, accredited programs whose graduates are certified by the BOC, to determine the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare graduates and education programs during the pandemic. Results A total of 201 PDs responded. All programs consistently reported that the pandemic had a negative impact on their students' BOC pass rate and scores. When asked what educational formats were used, all groups used virtual live lectures and recorded lectures. University programs were found to use more online student laboratories and simulation laboratory sessions than the hospital programs, affecting the psychomotor skills of their students. Conclusion The results indicated that the effects from the COVID-19 pandemic were related to the inherent differences between hospital and university programs. This study revealed that the pandemic affected university programs more than hospital programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used three instruments to assess genetic and phenotypic interrelationships related to symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in same-sex twins. Findings indicate that behavioral symptoms like inattentiveness, impulsivity, and restlessness were strongly correlated across measures and that genetic modelling confirmed behavioral contrast effects between twins.