Digital Commons Network^™

Integration Of Planetary Health In Health Professions Education And Training In Low- And Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review, Rayishnee Pillay, Veena S Singaram

Health Professions Education

Purpose: This review explored the integration of planetary health and sustainable healthcare education in health professions education and training in low- and middle income countries (LMICs), by mapping capacity development initiatives, pedagogical approaches and contextual barriers to implementation. Method: A literature search was conducted using the following databases, MEDLINE (PubMed), EBSCOhost (Academic Search Complete), ERIC, ProQuest, Redalyc, Sabinet, Scielo, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, and grey literature search on CORE, Google and Google Scholar for publications on the incorporation of planetary health and sustainable healthcare education in health professions education and training in LMICs between 1 January 2014 to 30 …

Assessing The Academic Performance Of Medical Students In Face-To-Face And Online Examinations: A Comparative Study From A Leading Medical College Of Peshawar, Pakistan, Rizwan Faisal, Iftikhar Qayum, Lia Anwar, Usama Afridi, Abdul Rahman, Rehan Ahmad

Health Professions Education

Background: The world of medical education is rapidly replacing the traditional face-to-face assessments of students by switching to online systems, and Pakistan is also undergoing this transition in its medical colleges and universities. It is therefore essential to obtain data on the performance of medical students in this new mode of assessment so that a smooth transition is enabled. Objective: To evaluate the academic performance of medical students in face-to-face and online examinations based on gender and professional year. Methods: A comparative study was performed at Rehman Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan, from November 2023 to January 2024, on face-to-face and …

Professional Identity Development Among Nursing Students: The Impact Of Structured Reflective Practice, Abdelmonim El Fadely, Kamal Takhdat, Charaf-Eddine Ahraiba, Rahma Bouali, Sabah Selmaoui, Boujemaa Agorram

Health Professions Education

Purpose This study aimed to assess the impact of a structured reflective practice intervention on the development of professional identity among nursing students. Method A mixed-methods design was adopted. The intervention, based on guided reflective practice, was implemented with a voluntary sample of 58 participants. The evaluation relied on a quasi-experimental quantitative approach using the Macleod Clark Professional Identity Scale, with a comparison group and both pre-test and post-test measurements. A qualitative component was also included to explore the dimensions of the studied concept in greater depth. Results Quantitative findings showed a statistically significant difference between the post-test means (p < 0.001), indicating that the reflective practice intervention had a positive effect on the experimental group compared to the control group. The qualitative results further illuminated students’ reflections, which were organized into ten themes corresponding to the study’s conceptual framework: professional knowledge and skills, values and ethics, the nursing role, leadership, professional self-image, social image of the profession, sense of belonging, identification with role models, theory–practice integration, and career choice. These dimensions provided a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of professional identity, capturing the complexity of the concept. Conclusion These results support the integration of reflective practice as a pedagogical approach to fostering the construction and development of a positive professional identity. Professional identity, as a rich and multidimensional concept, goes beyond the process of professionalization—it represents its ultimate achievement.

Nursing Education In Indonesia And The Global Demand For Quality Healthcare: A Systematic Review, Evelyn Hemme Tambunan

Health Professions Education

Purpose: This study systematically reviewed evidence (2019–2025) on Indonesian nursing education, focusing on accreditation, competency based curricula, and workforce readiness in relation to global standards

Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search was conducted across Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, DOAJ/PMC, and policy repositories. Eligible sources included peer reviewed studies, systematic reviews, and policy reports related to nursing education in Indonesia quality assurance, competency based learning, and workforce demand.

Results: Twelve studies and reports were included, producing three themes: accreditation and quality assurance, competency based education and curriculum innovation, and workforce readiness and global alignment. Accreditation reforms, particularly Indonesia’s 2025 outcomes based …

Climate Change Education In Medical Curricula: Integration, Collaboration, And Preparedness For Emerging Health Challenges, Sungkono Sungkono, Agus Santoso, Firdiawan Ekaputra, Firdian Makrufardi

Health Professions Education

Climate change poses increasing risks to global health, highlighting the need for healthcare professionals who understand the links between environmental change and health outcomes. Medical education is a key platform for fostering such competencies. This study aimed to examine the role of climate change education within medical curricula, focusing on its integration, the promotion of interdisciplinary collaboration, and its contribution to preparing students for emerging health challenges. This perspective paper provides an overview of current approaches to the integration of climate change education into medical training. Sources addressing curriculum design, knowledge acquisition, practical skill development, and collaborative learning were considered. …

Undergraduate Research Experiences Toward Student Success: Challenges And Opportunities For Medical Science Students At A University Of Technology, Ziningi Nobuhle Jaya

Health Professions Education

Purpose: The study aimed to evaluate the research experiences of undergraduate medical science students at a university of technology to identify challenges and opportunities and determine the affordances of research participation for student success.

Method: The study population comprised all third-year medical science students (n=30) enrolled in the research methods module, which is the only such module offered as part of the medical science academic program. Participation was voluntary and so the final sample represents a self-selected subset of fourteen individual from the full cohort. The data collection tool comprised closed and open-ended questions evaluating challenges, lessons learned, skills developed, …

Clay Modeling As An Effective Method Of Teaching-Learning Among Second-Year Medical Students In Pathology, Seema Umarji, Padmapriya K, Sulata Kamath

Health Professions Education

Introduction: Pathology is a core subject in undergraduate medical education, but students find it challenging to understand and retain microscopic concepts through lectures alone. Clay modeling, multisensory learning strategy, is shown to enhance comprehension in other subjects but remains understudied in pathology.

Purpose: To assess augmentation of learning using clay modeling, evaluate retention of knowledge after one month and explore student perceptions of clay modeling as a teaching method.

Methods: This interventional study involved 60 second-year MBBS students in the Department of Pathology over six months. Students were randomized into study and control groups. The study group used clay modelling …

Beyond The Numbers: A Mixed-Method Evaluation Of Faculty, Peer, And Self-Assessment Using Rubrics In Blood Pressure Determination Among Phase 1 Mbbs Students, Abeetha S, Chitra M, Suba A, B. Dharani, Sadhana S

Health Professions Education

Background: Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) emphasizes formative, learner-centred assessment. Blood pressure (BP) measurement, a core clinical skill, integrates knowledge, skills, communication, ethics, and attitude. While rubrics are widely used to standardize evaluation, their utility in triangulating faculty, peer, and self-assessment in BP measurement remains underexplored.

Aim: To evaluate the reliability and educational value of rubric-based faculty, peer, and self-assessment in BP determination among Phase 1 MBBS students using a mixed-methods approach.

Methods: A cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted among 98 Phase 1 MBBS students in a South Indian medical college. Forty-nine students performed BP measurement, assessed simultaneously by 5 faculty …

The Predictive Ability Of Decision-Making For Cognitive Dissonance Among Nursing Students, Adnan Yousef Atoum, Omar Atallah Al-Adamat, Emran A. Abu Aqoulah, Aya Al-Ali, Marah Al-Smadi

Health Professions Education

Purpose: The present study aimed to examine the levels of cognitive dissonance and decision-making among nursing students at Irbid National University-Irbid, Jordan, and to investigate the predictive ability of decision-making for cognitive dissonance.

Method: The study sample consisted of (251) male and female nursing students at Irbid National University-Irbid, Jordan. The cognitive dissonance scale and the decision-making scale were used after assuring validity and reliability.

Results: The study results indicated that the level of cognitive dissonance was low, and the level of decision-making ability was high. The study results also indicated that decision-making variable explained 17.2% of …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of The Well-Being Through Occupational Participation (Wbop) Intervention In Promoting Well-Being In Occupational Therapy Students From A Philippine University: A Convergent Mixed-Methods Study, Elena Wong Espiritu, Maria Concepcion Dc. Cabatan, Guia Allyza D. Rabacca, Marlowe Eriberto P. Acuña Jr, Jay Allen B. Villon, Peñafrancia E. Ching

Health Professions Education

Purpose: Filipino occupational therapy students experience decreased well-being during their educational experience. However, there is a limited amount of literature describing their well-being and a scarcity of culturally specific interventions to promote student well-being. The Well-Being Through Occupational Participation intervention is an evidence-based, manualized program consisting of a variety of occupation-based activities. The objective of this study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a modified version of the intervention in promoting undergraduate Filipino occupational therapy student well-being.

Methods: A convergent mixed-methods approach was used, specifically longitudinal survey for the quantitative design and qualitative descriptive for the qualitative design. Data was …

Factors Associated With Academic Outcomes And Leave Of Absence Among Health Professions Graduate Students, Laura Plummer, Emile Boutin, Hien Nguyen, Devashish Tiwari, Sanah Chatiwala, Deborah Altsher, Nara Gavini, Keshrie Naidoo

Health Professions Education

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to examine the extent to which health professions graduate students' demographic, academic, and environmental factors influence time to graduation. It also aimed to explore the experiences of graduates who took a leave of absence (LOA), including their perspectives on the factors contributing to delayed graduation and the strategies that supported their reintegration and eventual success.

Methods: A mixed methods explanatory sequential design with the qualitative analysis providing deeper context to the quantitative data. The qualitative arm of the study utilized a phenomenological approach. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviations for the continuous variables, …

Firearm Violence In Health Care Professional Education In The United States: A Scoping Review., Kim D. Dao, Melissa D. Burgemeister, Sierra M. Hakanson, Audrey Rc Elias, Liana C. Wooten

Health Professions Education

Purpose: Despite widespread recognition of firearm violence (FV) as a public health crisis in the United States (US), gaps persist in understanding the education provided to health care professionals (HCPs) regarding prevention and management. This scoping review aimed to characterize FV education curricula for HCPs in the US, focusing on identifying target learners and understanding curricular content and implementation to inform future educational initiatives.

Methods: This scoping review was conducted according to Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews in PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Cochrane. Search terms included “health occupations”, “allied health personnel”, “gun violence/prevention”, “firearm violence/prevention”, “curriculum”, “education”, …

Relationship Between Turnover, And Resilience Among Critical Care Nurses In Oman. An Implication For Nursing Practice., Mohammed Qutishat

Health Professions Education

Background: Critical care nurses face numerous challenges, including increased anxiety, depression, and traumatic incidents. Workplace stress can lead to Burnout and turnover, with a significant percentage of global hospital nurses planning to leave within a year. Resilience and positive attitudes towards mental health are crucial for nurses, as they serve as societal leaders. In Oman, many nurses plan to leave their current jobs within a year, highlighting the need for healthcare organizations to create measures to avoid stressors and foster worker well-being.

Aim: To examine the relationship between turnover and resilience among critical care nurses in Oman.

Method: This study …

Students' Perceptions Of The Elective Modules: A Multicentre Study From Institutions Of Northwest India, Reshu Gupta, Shrishti Upadhyay, Praveen Singh

Health Professions Education

Purpose: Evaluation of students’ perception of the newly introduced Electives Module by the National Medical Commission, India, within the curriculum of competency-based medical education, effective from admission batch 2019, by gathering their feedback and opinions to assess the effectuation of the program.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Phase III Part II MBBS students of admission batches 2019 and 2020 at two medical institutions in Jaipur, a city in Rajasthan, India. The perceptions were evaluated via a questionnaire designed in alignment with the objectives of the elective modules of the National Medical Commission of India and included …

Tracing The Evolution Of Signature Technologies In Health Professions Education: Developments, Challenges, And Possibilities, Jacob Kelley, Kimberly B. Garza, Kelley Noll, Allison Chung

Health Professions Education

Purpose. This integrative literature review traces the evolution of signature technologies in health professions education and their impact on teaching and learning. By exploring these technologies, it highlights the ways these advancements shape learning experiences and the preparation of future healthcare professionals. While these technologies present opportunities for enhanced learning, they also introduce challenges related to accessibility, cost, and effectiveness.

Method. Using Torraco’s framework for integrative literature reviews, this article synthesizes existing scholarship to trace the historical development of signature technologies in health professions education. The authors conducted searches in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for literature published primarily between …

Varieties And Forms Of Capstone Experiences In U.S. Pharmacy Education, Mohammed A. Islam, Erfan Kohzadi, Laleh Zamirian

Health Professions Education

Purpose: In health professions education, capstone courses provide students with a culminating experience, enabling them to integrate and apply clinical and practice skills in real-world settings. With their growing adoption in Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) curricula, this study examined the prevalence, diversity, and structure of capstone courses across US programs. The aim was to identify emerging patterns that can inform the development of models aligned with accreditation standards, workforce expectations, and ongoing curricular improvement.

Methods: A systematic content analysis of 142 US pharmacy program websites was performed. The recorded data included course objectives, format, credit hours, course placement, teaching methods, …

Peer Assisted Mentoring As A Catalyst For Academic Success In Final-Year Dental Students: An Action Research Approach, Manovijay Balagangadharan, Babyjohn John, Saranyan Ravi, Sabitha Gokulraj, D.N. Shrienitha

Health Professions Education

Purpose Peer-assisted mentoring (PAM) is increasingly recognized as an effective educational strategy in health professions education. It fosters collaborative learning, where mentors and mentees engage in knowledge exchange, critical thinking, and skill development. This study aimed to explore the influence of peer-assisted mentoring on the academic performance of final-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students, in comparison to their non-mentored counterparts, while also assessing its broader educational benefits.

Methodology An action research study was conducted during the 2023–2024 academic year at Vinayaka Mission’s Sankarachariyar Dental College, Salem, Tamil Nadu, and India. High-achieving dental interns were selected and trained to serve …

Medical Educator Portfolios As The Curriculum Vitae Of Educationists: A Comprehensive Review, Sami Mohamed

Health Professions Education

Purpose: Health professions education (HPE) continually evolves, driven by medical educators who hold dual roles as clinicians and educators. Medical Educator Portfolios (MEPs) provide a structured approach to documenting contributions within this context. The increasing complexity and diversity of personal and professional experiences highlight the need for a more comprehensive descriptor of accomplishments. Therefore, this review aims to outline core components of MEPs and comprehensively describe their sequential design, while highlighting their significance within HPE

Methods: This comprehensive narrative review was conducted through a systematic literature search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, focusing on …

Impact Of Artificial Intelligence On Medical Education And Cognitive Skill Development At Medical College Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Anas Bassam Barnawi, Abdulrahman Abdullah Almudawi, Abdullah Mohammed Alrabeah

Health Professions Education

Purpose This study aims to explore the impact of AI on medical education by examining the relationship between AI use and academic performance in medical courses, evaluating the extent of its integration in students' clinical practice and application, and assessing how it enhances medical knowledge and understanding. In addition, the study measures medical students' attitudes toward the use of AI in their education and clinical training, providing a comprehensive overview of both its benefits and challenges.

Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted between November 2024 and December 2024 with 168 participants, including students and interns from various academic years. The …

Knowledge And Attitudes Of Medical Students About Research Methodology, Statistics, And Statistical Inference: An Assessment For Clinical Research Comprehension Skills, Laith Ashour, Lama Al-Mehaisen, Afnan Rababa, Osama Alrjoob, Moutaz Amayrh, Malak Al-Rabe'e, Qusai Al-Anasweh, Hala Al-Miqdadi, Nada Freihat, Mohammad Al Khreisha, Ala' Al Doaikat, Al-Mo'tasem Bellah Al-Rahamneh, Hamzeh Hatamleh, Fayez Zedat

Health Professions Education

Objectives: Medical students require a solid understanding of statistics in research papers. However, literature lacks sufficient studies on their proficiency, especially on Jordanian aspect. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study on 361 medical students to evaluate their attitudes toward statistics, their knowledge in research methodology, and their ability to correctly interpret commonly used statistics in medical research. Statistical attitudes were assessed using three scales (value, difficulty, and interest) from the SATS-36 scale. Additionally, a novel author's-validated scale was created to measure students' research methodology knowledge. The scale validity was assessed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Multiple linear regression analysis was …

Beyond Clinical: A Proposed Policy Literacy Pathway In Health Sciences Education, Zarina Syed

Health Professions Education

Purpose: Health sciences graduates require not only clinical competence but also the ability to interpret, engage with, and enact policy. Yet, undergraduate curricula often emphasize technical skills, leaving gaps in policy literacy. Method: This conceptual paper proposes a scaffolded Policy Literacy Pathway to progressively integrate policy understanding across health sciences curricula. Results: Policy is framed as a dynamic, context-dependent process, aligning global ethical frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals with regional legislation and professional regulations. The pathway comprises four stages: Encounter, Iterative Engagement, Critical Reflection, and Policy Enactment. These guide students from initial exposure to policy issues through analysis …

Healthcare Students' Perspective On The Clinical Placement Learning Environment: A Cross-Sectional Study Of Third- And Fourth-Year Students At A College Of Health Sciences In The Uae., Wuni Abdul Razak, Fatima Alrayssi, Arwa Alkarbi, Latifa Al Saedi, Suliman Salih, Ajnas Alkatheeri, Mohamed Hassaneen, Mohd Nazmi Nordin, Mbambo Collen, Emne Hammoud, Shaik Balkhis Banu, Monika Sachdeva, Noon Kamil

Health Professions Education

Purpose: This study evaluates the clinical placement learning environment from the standpoint of Year 3 and Year 4 healthcare students in the UAE. Methods: The perspectives of healthcare students on clinical learning environments were studied using the validated Undergraduate Clinical Education Environment Measure (UCEEM). Third- and fourth-year (fifth-year pharmacy students inclusive) undergraduate healthcare students (radiography and medical imaging, emergency health, midwifery, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and psychology) (n=647) at a United Arab Emirates university were invited to participate in the study. The UCEEM contains 25 items under two overarching aspects, experiential learning and social engagement, with four subscales: learning opportunities at …

The Role Of Application Questions In Identifying Underrepresented Applicants In A Doctor Of Physical Therapy Program: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study, Michael Bourassa, Allison Bourassa, Saurabh Mehta

Health Professions Education

Purpose: The underrepresentation of U.S minority groups in the physical therapy profession remains a persistent challenge, with student enrollment in U.S doctoral education programs being the main pipeline to increase representation within U.S healthcare fields. This study aims to examine the association between non-academic application questions and applicant diversity in a Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Methods: The main outcomes measured in this study include demographic and cognitive variables, as well as non-academic application questions, for a single DPT program admissions cycle. Demographic variables include race, gender, and age, while cognitive variables include GRE scores and GPA. General non-cognitive question …

Fostering Cross-Institutional And Cross-Disciplinary Peer Review Of Teaching In Health Sciences Programs, Snezana Kusljic, Nicole B Reinke, Tania N Crotti, Nidhish Francis, Sophie Paquet-Fifield, David Van Reyk, Roma Forbes

Health Professions Education

Purpose: The education of future health professionals brings with it a diversity of programs, the requirements for effective work-integrated learning experiences, and best use of discipline and clinical expertise. Peer review of teaching (PRT) is one mechanism whereby interdisciplinary connections are built to improve the quality of teaching and learning. This article introduces a novel perspective on the PRT process and highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Methods: The Health Sciences Special Interest Group within the Higher Education and Research Development Society of Australasia initiated a cross-institutional PRT which included seven educators of varying academic experience from six Australian academic …

Determinants Of Postgraduate Education Pursuit Among South African Trained Paramedics: A Cross-Sectional Study, Naseef Abdullah, Patricia Mcinerney, Simpiwe Sobuwa

Health Professions Education

Introduction: The knowledge economy necessitates a highly skilled workforce, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) navigating sustainable development trajectories. Within healthcare systems, paramedics represent a critical professional group whose advanced education directly impacts emergency care quality and system improve ment. While postgraduate qualifications are essential for paramedics to effectively develop and implement evidence- based emergency care and address unique healthcare challenges, the determinants influencing their educational advancement remain poorly understood. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study collected data from 265 Paramedics registered as Emergency Care Practitioners with the South African Health Professions Council through an online survey. Participants were recruited …

Challenging Agency Deregulation, Todd S. Aagaard

Faculty Publications

The administrative state is experiencing two seismic shifts. First, in recent years, the Supreme Court has issued a series of decisions that significantly curtailed the powers of administrative agencies. Second, President Donald Trump is using administrative agencies to aggressively deregulate in his second term. The conventional wisdom is that the Supreme Court’s recent precedent will facilitate the Trump Administration’s deregulatory agenda.

This Article argues the opposite. Instead of promoting agency deregulation, recent Supreme Court precedent restraining agency authority provides a potentially powerful basis for challenging agency deregulation as administrative overreach. Time and time again, the Court has taken agencies to …

Bovine Lactoferrin Maintains Antibacterial Effect Against Neonatal Escherichia Coli Septicaemia Isolates Despite The Presence Of Iron Acquisition Genes, Matthew Mayorga, Joshua L. Wheatley, Brianna N. Maldonado, Susana Chavez-Bueno

Student Publications

Introduction. Escherichia coli is a dominant cause of neonatal sepsis for which no prevention measures currently exist. Lactoferrin (LF) is an iron-sequestering antibacterial protein that has been noticed to decrease neonatal late-onset sepsis.

Hypothesis/Gap Statement. LF’s effect on in vitro growth of neonatal E. coli clinical isolates causing septicaemia is unknown. The prevalence of iron acquisition virulence genes which contribute to pathogenicity outcomes in these strains has also not been described in detail.

Aim. To evaluate bovine lactoferrin’s (bLF) effects on the in vitro growth of neonatal septicaemia E. coli isolates, and to determine the presence of iron acquisition …

The Law And Ai As An “Apex Collaborator”: Legal Frameworks For Optimized Cooperation, David S. Filippi, Bill Tomlinson, Andrew W. Torrance

FIU Law Review

Law fundamentally exists to enable human cooperation, providing frameworks for everything from basic contracts to complex international agreements. As artificial intelligence systems grow more sophisticated, they may enable new ways that collaborative activity can occur. We posit the possibility of a new kind of AI entity: the “Apex Collaborator,” a computational system with capabilities for cooperation and partnership that are superior, in at least some ways, to those of humans. Just as apex predators shape the ecosystems in which they live through predation, Apex Collaborators would shape human-AI networks through their ability to enhance peaceful coexistence, collective problem-solving, and shared …

Pediatric Both Bone Fracture Leading To Median Nerve Entrapment: A Case Report, Joshua Lyndon Dale, Frank Gerold

School of Medicine Publications

Introduction: Both-bone forearm fractures are common in pediatric patients and most often result from a fall onto an outstretched hand. Although rare, nerve entrapments, particularly of the median nerve, can occur, especially following closed reduction.

Case report: We present the case of a 13-year-old male who sustained a both-bone forearm fracture while on vacation in Mexico. The injury was managed with closed reduction and casting. Despite appropriate treatment, the patient developed progressive numbness, tingling, and thenar atrophy in the median nerve distribution. Electromyography and nerve conduction studies confirmed significant median nerve dysfunction. Surgical exploration revealed the median nerve entrapped in …

Carceral Schools: Black Geographies Of Confinement, Surveillance, And Policing, M. Alex Evans

FIU Law Review

This Article charts the deeply entrenched traditions of policing, containing, and surveilling blackness throughout this Nation’s history, with particular focus on Black students and schools. It provides school discipline data demonstrating the perpetual racial, gender, and ability disparities that Black students face decade after decade. It employs Black Geography as a theoretical framework to analyze school as a spatial and racial experience for all youth. This reading of carceral schools as Black geographic terrains of struggle expands the notion of school policing beyond dominant ideations which are largely limited to law enforcement officers in schools. It highlights the extent to …