Digital Commons Network^™

Virtual Culinary Nutrition Education: Youth And Parent/Guardian Acceptability Of The Switch Cooking School, Summer Mcvicker, Laura Paulsen, Anna Mlodzik, Allison Henry, Maren Wolff

Journal of Extension

Face-to-face cooking programs can positively impact food choices, fruit and vegetable intake, and cooking self-efficacy; however, little is known about virtual cooking programs. We studied the perceived acceptability of the virtual SWITCH Cooking School (SCS). Four monthly cooking classes were offered for each participating school. Classes included nutrition education, food safety, and cooking demonstrations. Feedback was collected through post-class surveys and focus groups with parent/guardian and youth participants. Families valued the convenience of the virtual delivery and were interested in participating again. Future considerations for the SCS include incorporating additional variety of culinary skills and modifying registration methods.

Extension Education For Real Estate Professionals: Teaching Regulations And Sharing Resources That Protect Water Quality And Property Values, Linda Patterson, Shari Halik, Kristine F. Stepenuck

Journal of Extension

Real estate professionals can be an important source of information for home buyers and sellers about regulations and practices that protect water quality and properties from environmental damage. Lake Champlain Sea Grant (LCSG) Extension identified a deficit in real estate education covering these topics for real estate professionals. Accredited real estate workshops were initially developed by LCSG Extension and Vermont Agency of Natural Resources specialists. The program was later expanded to New York. Six-month follow-up surveys indicated that the majority of participants continued to use knowledge and tools gained in the workshops. Suggestions for replicating this program elsewhere are provided.

Extension E-Learning Meets Instructional Design, Joan S. York

Journal of Extension

This article explores the application of instructional design principles to enhance Extension e-learning programs. The growth of e-learning has led to its incorporation into many organizations, including extension programs, offering opportunities for expanded access to educational content. However, e-learning presents unique challenges, such as the need for self-regulation and the absence of social interaction. To address these challenges, the article proposes leveraging instructional design theories, including cognitive load theory, interactivity, and formative assessment.

Examining Influences On Cotton And Peanut Farmers’ Intentions To Adopt Agricultural Best Management Practices In Southeast Georgia, William R. Taylor, Abigail Borron, Jessica Holt, Walter Scott Monfort

Journal of Extension

Various factors have been found to influence farmers’ adoption of best management practices. This study examines the influences on farmers’ intentions to adopt best management practices by using an extended model of the theory of planned behavior. This descriptive exploratory study surveyed Georgia cotton and peanut farmers (N = 41). Findings revealed farmers had positive attitudes toward best management practices and showed that the use of best management practices is aligned with farmers’ intrinsic motivations. Agricultural practitioners may enhance educational and outreach efforts by leveraging farmers’ motivations and necessary capacities as outlined in this study.

The Birds And The Bees: Teaching Parents How To Educate Their Children About Sex, Tonya Pell, Courtney Aldrich

Journal of Extension

Parent educators at Michigan State University Extension have had great success with their Extension Extras Parenting Hour series which began in 2020. The series is organized every quarter, meets weekly, and changes topics every week. The 90 minute class covers a range of parenting topics from positive discipline, talking to children about race, early literacy, and now, due to a need being identified and addressed, how to educate children about sex and sexuality. This new topic to the series has received positive feedback from participants and has led to community organizations asking for similar classes and support from the team.

Welcome To The New Frontier: Introducing Extension To The Next Generation Of Conservation Planning Tools, Emma E. Bravard, Emily K. Zimmerman, John C. Tyndall, David James

Journal of Extension

A new frontier of conservation planning capacity utilizing innovative decision support tools has emerged. Extension professionals play an important role in using these new data and tools to achieve conservation and water quality outcomes. Here, we detail the application of two conservation planning tools: Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) and Financial and Nutrient Reduction Tool (FiNRT). Tools like these are increasingly being used to guide conservation efforts in agricultural landscapes; provide information regarding potential resource concern; and offer valuable data about outcomes from best management practice (BMP) placement. Extension professionals’ use of such tools could enhance conservation implementation and outcomes.

The Farmer Stress Production Meeting Model: Acceptability And Feasibility Of An Intervention, Anna Scheyett, Andrea Scarrow, Jennifer Dunn, Stephanie Hollifield, Justin Shealey, Brian Hayes

Journal of Extension

Farmers experience high stress levels, but are often reluctant to participate in mental health-specific programming. We tested providing stress supports to farmers by embedding information and resources within existing Extension production meetings. During meetings, farmers were offered blood pressure screenings where providers would also discuss stress; were offered an information packet on stress and health, and listened to a brief talk from a therapist with local roots. Farmers accepted screenings and resources, and several later contacted the therapist. Extension agents, initially cautious about addressing the topic of farmer stress, expressed greater confidence in talking about the issue after these meetings.

Assessing The Influence Of 4-H Participation On The Development Of Workforce Readiness Skills, Jodi L. Smith, Jamie Mullins, Lisa Ingram, Brenda Pruett, Allison Nichols, Carole Scheerbaum, Lorrie Wright, Amanda Johnson

Journal of Extension

We examined the impact of 4-H participation on workforce readiness skill development, including personal, work, communication, and problem solving/decision-making. The study examined two levels of 4-H activities: county-level and state-level. The online survey instrument contained questions about demographics, skill development and 4-H participation. Respondents indicated participation in county-level activities was positively related to the development of the four workforce skills; however, participation in state-level activities was significantly related to the development of work skills. Problem solving/decision-making skills was least associated to county or state-level participation. We recommend Extension professionals intentionally incorporate workforce readiness skills into all 4-H activities.

Building Extension Professional’S Capacity To Engage Volunteers: Evaluation Of The Developmental Stages Of An Extension Professional Model, Kandi O'Neil, Rachelle Vettern, Rebecca Harrington, Sarah Maass, Patricia Mcglaughlin, Josset S. Gauley

Journal of Extension

The Developmental Stages of an Extension Professional (DSEP) model depicts how professionals can move through the stages of service, education, management, and leadership to build volunteer and program capacity. It encourages Extension professionals to assess the situation and adjust their leadership style.

Researchers used a mixed methods approach to assess Dr. James Rutledge’s DSEP model. Findings confirmed training Extension professionals in the DSEP model throughout the Achieving the Extension Mission through Volunteers course led to positive behavior change when working with volunteers. Extension needs to train professionals and utilize the DSEP model to build program capacity through volunteer engagement.

Impact Of Stolon Removal On Yield And Fruit Quality Of Day-Neutral Fragaria X Ananassa “Cabrillo” Grown In Outdoor Soilless Conditions, Kate Fessler, Emily E. Hoover, Neil O. Anderson

Journal of Extension

Strawberries are among the most consumed fruits in the U.S. and demand for locally grown fruit is high. Although most production in Minnesota is dominated by June-bearers, new techniques for growing day-neutral strawberries are becoming increasingly prevalent. These techniques include in-ground plasticulture and soilless tabletop production, and growers are generally advised to remove stolons (runners) from day-neutral plants. There is relatively little information available to confirm that this practice, and its attendant labor increase, is a necessity in soilless tabletop production. This study’s objective was to determine whether this practice is necessary to maximize yield and fruit quality, using the …

Who Cares For The Caregiver? Exploring Extension’S Role In Informal Caregiving Support, Mckenzie R. Tuttle, Erin L. Martinez, Aimee Fox

Journal of Extension

Family caregivers provide invaluable service by taking on the responsibility of caring for older adults in the United States. With a growing aging population, the need for family caregivers and demands on their time and resources will continue to increase. Although a variety of caregiving resources and support services exist, family caregivers often lack the awareness, time, transportation, or financial resources to connect to services. There is a critical need to address the barriers that prevent caregivers from accessing services. In this commentary, we highlight barriers and make recommendations for improving conversations, research, and practice to meet this growing problem.

Beyond Direct Education And Facilitation: Revisiting The Role Of Extension In Community & Regional Food Systems Development, Catie M. Demets, Lindsey Day Farnsworth

Journal of Extension

The fundamental issues that community and regional food systems aim to address are inherently systems problems, yet many Extension programs continue to focus food system development efforts on activities and actors that directly support the food value chain. While important, the impact of these interventions is limited. Drawing from interviews with directors of four of the nation’s leading Community and Regional Food Systems Extension programs, this article makes a case for rethinking Extension’s role in community and regional food systems development in relationship to key leverage points through a typology of Extension roles and corresponding examples.

Sterilisation Efficiency Of Dental Burs And Bacterial Species Investigation In Dental Clinics: Comparison Study, Ghsaq M. Alhamdani, Bent Alhuda Hussein Neamah, Azal H Al-Masoody

Maaen Journal for Medical Sciences

In a regular dental facility, the correct management of the pre-cleaning and sterilisation phases plays a significant role in the good management of personnel and instruments. Thorough cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation are critical in dental clinics as most of instruments are reusable in daily practice. However, the sterilisation process of some equipment is difficult because of their complex structure, small size and presence of surface details. One of the most potent devices for cross-infection in dental clinics is a dental bur, present in a variety of materials, shapes and sizes with highly complex surface features. Evidence suggests transmission of viruses …

Applicant Perceptions Of In-Person Versus Virtual Interview Format For Surgical Retina Fellowship, Sonya Besagar, Shriji Patel, Lejla Vajzovic, Adrienne W. Scott, Xiangyu Ji, Qingxia Chen, Avni Finn

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose

This article compares applicants' perceptions of and experiences with virtual and in-person interviews for surgical retina fellowship.

Methods

A survey was distributed via email to all applicants of three vitreoretinal surgery fellowship programs for the 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023 application cycles.

Main Outcome Measures

Participants were surveyed regarding cost; burden of scheduling; number of applications and interviews completed; ability to gain a true feel of the program, location, and preceptor; and number of work and surgical days missed.

Results

Of 151 applicants contacted, 36 completed the survey (23.8% response rate). Of the respondents, 25.0% attended only …

Virtual Versus In-Person Ophthalmology Interviews: Perceptions Of U.S. Ophthalmology Fellowship Applicants In 2022–2023, Elliot G. Cherkas, Charlotte N. Shields, Nikhil Mandava, Lily Zhang, Arunan Sivalingam, Richard S. Kaiser, Jonathan S. Myers, Kristin M. Hammersmith, Reza Razeghinejad, Brenton D. Finklea, Carol I. Shields, Jayanth Sridhar, Michael A. Klufas

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose

Despite easing restrictions on social distancing and travel since the beginning of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, virtual interviews remain a widely used format for ophthalmology fellowship interviews. This study aims to evaluate the relative benefits and drawbacks of in-person versus virtual interviews during a cycle where both formats were prevalent.

Methods

A prospective cross-sectional study surveyed all fellowship applicants (N = 311) who applied to Wills Eye Hospital and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute during the 2022 to 2023 application cycle.

Results

A total of 59 (19%) applicants responded to the survey, with the majority being male (53.0%) and between …

The Big Data Gap: Asymmetric Information In The Ophthalmology Residency Match Process And The Argument For Transparent Residency Data, Stephen Adam Le Breton, Shilpa Desai

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Background

The ophthalmology match is an important step for graduating medical students that defines their future career. Residency programs demonstrate significant variability due to differences in size, location, research output, subspecialty exposure, surgical case load, and alumni fellowship/practice placement. Despite the importance of informed decision-making, applicants often find limited, inconsistent information about potential programs.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to characterize and identify gaps in the information available to residents in the 2022 to 2023 Match.

Methods

The SFMatch Web site was reviewed to identify programs included as well as characteristics cited on each program's webpage. Program webpages …

Gender Representation On North American Ophthalmology Societies' Governance Boards, Mostafa Bondok, Rishika Selvakumar, Muhammad Khan, Mohamed S. Bondok, Anne Xuan-Lan Nguyen, Edsel Ing, Christine Law

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose

We examined the gender distribution and academic productivity of North American ophthalmology societies' board members.

Methods

Cross-sectional and retrospective study of board members on American and Canadian ophthalmology societies. In December 2022, data was gathered from society webpages, online archives, and the Scopus database for publication information.

Results

Of the identified 73 board presidents and 876 other board members, 49 (67.1%) board presidents were men and 24 (32.9%) were women, while 554 (63.2%) other board members were men and 322 (36.8%) were women (p = 0.53). Overall, board members who were men had significantly higher median h-indexes (men vs. …

Resident Sleep During Traditional Home Call Compared To Night Float, Apoorva Chowdhary, John A. Davis, Leona Ding, Parisa Taravati, Shu Feng

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose

This article aims to compare resident sleep while on night float with a traditional home call.

Methods

We conducted a crossover observational study assessing sleep patterns of seven postgraduate year-2 ophthalmology residents at the University of Washington from 2019 to 2021 using the Fitbit Alta HR device. Overnight call was scheduled from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. on weekdays, and 8 a.m. to 8 a.m. on weekends. The residency program implemented a partial night float rotation, during which two to three nights of consecutive call were assigned to a resident without other clinical duties. Sleep was recorded using the …

Success In Increasing Diversity: One Residency Program's Journey, Jamie B. Rosenberg, Sunju Park, Richard Gibralter, Anurag Shrivastava, Roy S. Chuck

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Given the low rates of under-represented minority (URM) residents[1] and practicing physicians[2] in ophthalmology, ophthalmology training programs in the United States have been charged with increasing diversity to better represent our population. There have been great efforts from the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Ophthalmology to expand the pipeline, particularly through the Minority Ophthalmology Mentoring program.[3] Other groups such as the Rabb Venable Research Foundation and the Student National Medical Association have also been crucial in encouraging and supporting URM students. Initiatives such as the Einstein Enrichment Program for 7th to 12th graders and …

Follow-Up Adherence After Community Health Vision Screening Programs: A Review Of The Literature, Rebecca Zeng, Kara C. Lamattina

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Objective
Although the purpose of community eye screening programs is to reduce health care disparities, the effectiveness of these programs is limited by the follow-up adherence of their participants. The aim of this review is to investigate factors that may promote or hinder participants from attending follow-up ophthalmological exams after community eye screenings and identify interventions to increase follow-up rates.

Methods
For literature review, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Proquest/Global Health Library, and Google Scholar databases were searched to identify studies of community eye screenings published between January 2000 and May 2023. Data from these articles were analyzed to identify …

Ophthalmology Residency Program Director Survey On Pass/Fail U.S. Medical Licensing Exam Step 1 Scoring, Ayaka Fujihashi, Om U. Patel, Ishant Yadav, Kaitlin Burge, William Haynes, Ryan Zaniewski, Nicholas Van Wagoner, Maria B. Grant

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Background
Beginning January 26, 2022, the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) Step 1 changed from a numerical score to pass/fail (P/F). The purpose of this study was to determine the perspective of ophthalmology program directors regarding this change in evaluating applicants.

Methods
After institutional review board approval, a survey was sent out to program directors of all 125 ophthalmology programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Survey questions asked for program demographics, the utility of USMLE Step 1 and 2 Clinical Knowledge scores in assessing applicants, and the importance of 16 different applicant metrics before and after …

The Transition To Ophthalmology Residency: A National Survey Of The Combined Ophthalmology Pgy-1 Program, Amee D. Azad, Melissa Yuan, Marguerite Weinert, Tatiana R. Rosenblatt, Joan W. Miller, Alice Lorch

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Background

In 2017, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education announced all ophthalmology residency programs would provide a combined transitional or joint preliminary program for first postgraduate year (PGY-1) residents, with mandatory implementation by 2023.

Purpose

This study aimed to survey ophthalmology residency program directors, postgraduate year 2 (PGY-2) ophthalmology residents who were a part of the first, official combined ophthalmology PGY-1 year, and postgraduate year 3 (PGY-3) residents who were a PGY-1 resident the year prior to integration to evaluate characteristics and perspectives on the combined ophthalmology PGY-1 year.

Methods

A national, internet survey-based study approved by the Association …

Perspectives From An Ophthalmic Hospitalist—Changing How We View Hospital-Based Consults, Donna H. Kim

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Inpatient and emergency room ophthalmology consults are becoming an increasingly important issue as fewer providers are willing to provide hospital-based coverage. In this Editorial, I explore aspects of this challenge and highlight a potential solution via the role of an ophthalmic hospitalist.

Self-Reported Perceptions Of Preparedness Among Incoming Ophthalmology Residents, Benjamin R. Lin, Geoffrey Nguyen, Jayanth Sridhar, Kara Cavuoto

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to assess the self-perceived preparedness of incoming postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) and postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) ophthalmology interns/residents to carry out core competencies in ophthalmology.

Methods

An online survey was created using the Survey Monkey survey platform and distributed to all ophthalmology resident applicants to the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute from the 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023 application cycles. The survey contained questions pertaining to demographics, prior ophthalmic experience, online resources that were used to prepare for ophthalmology, and self-perceived preparedness to carry out key clinical skills in ophthalmology.

Results

A …

Perspectives Of Resident And Attending Ophthalmologists On Common Ethical Dilemmas In Research, Sarah C. Miller, Brittany C. Tsou, Michael J. Fliotsos, Gary L. Legault, Jiangxia Wang, Todd J. Mondzelewski, Patrick D. Munson, Alice Lorch, Laura K. Green, Won I. Kim, Ron W. Pelton, Fasika A. Woreta, Grant A. Justin

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose

To assess how resident and attending ophthalmologists perceive and evaluate ethically controversial scenarios regarding mentorship, authorship, and ethics compliance that may occur during research involving residents.

Methods

An online survey was developed and contained 14 controversial vignettes based on common research scenarios that can occur when conducting research with trainees. The scenarios were designed to capture issues regarding three themes: mentorship, authorship, and compliance with ethical guidelines. Resident and attending ophthalmologists at eight military and civilian academic residency programs in the United States were invited to participate. Respondents used a Likert scale to assess the ethicality of the situations …

Ergonomics Of Ophthalmic Surgery: Evaluating The Effect Of A Posture Trainer On Trainee Intraoperative Back Posture, Zahra Markatia, Hasenin Al-Khersan, Meghana Kalavar, Arjun Watane, Nicolas Yannuzzi, Jayanth Sridhar

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose

Ophthalmic surgeons are at an increased risk for musculoskeletal disorders resulting from ophthalmology-specific routines and equipment, which have become widely associated with poor posture. The purpose of this study was to observe the effect that a commercially available posture trainer, Upright Go, can have on the improvement of posture of ophthalmic surgeons.

Methods

Eight ophthalmologists-in-training were studied over a period of 4 weeks during their surgical rotations between September 2020 and June 2021. Participants underwent an “observation” period, followed by a 2-week “training” period, then a final “testing” period. The percentage of time users spent upright intraoperatively pre- and …

The Matthew Effect: Prevalence Of Doctor And Physician Parents Among Ophthalmology Applicants, Diana Khair, Cody C. Blanchard, Kevin K. Wang, Daniel B. Moore

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Objective

This article determines the prevalence of physician parents among ophthalmology residency applications.

Design

Retrospective, single-center cohort study.

Subjects

All applicants to the University of Kentucky Ophthalmology Residency between 2018 and 2023.

Methods

Residency applications were reviewed, with data collection including applicant gender, self-identified Under-Represented in Medicine (URiM) status, United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 score, USMLE Step 2 score, and whether the application identified a doctor or physician as a parent. Doctor was defined as a profession requiring a doctorate degree, and similarly, physician as a profession requiring a medical degree.

Results

A total of 2,057 applications …

Nurse Practitioner Students' Knowledge Assessment And Perceived Preparedness To Triage Ophthalmology Complaints In A Primary Care Setting: An Educational Intervention, Grace R. Reilly, Nancy G. Russell, Kimberly Mciltrot, Stephen D. Sisson, Adrienne W. Scott

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose

In this proof-of-concept pilot study, we aimed to increase nurse practitioner (NP) student knowledge of ophthalmology to prepare NPs for encounters in primary care settings. The Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO) and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) endorse core knowledge that medical students should achieve. We assess the effectiveness of an innovative ophthalmologist-led curriculum based on these competencies tailored to issues NPs encounter in primary care.

Methods Johns Hopkins University NP students enrolled in a pre–post-cohort study and educational intervention. The didactic program was developed according to AUPO and AAO core ophthalmology content for medical students …

Ophthopods: An Analysis Of The Educational Content And Changes Of Ophthalmology Podcasts, Isaiah I. Greene, Fradah E. Gold, Nicholas E. Tan, Alexander H. Fang, Nickisa M. Hodgson

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Objective

Podcasts are a novel modality for digitally disseminating ophthalmic knowledge, yet minimal information exists on their offerings. This study sought to describe the growth of ophthalmology podcasts, characterize their features, and analyze clinically pertinent content trends.

Materials and Methods

Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Google Search were queried for English-language shows relating primarily to ophthalmology. Ninety-six podcasts and 3,594 episodes were analyzed.

Results

Of the 48 currently active shows, most cover general ophthalmology topics (n = 25, 52.1%) and are run by multiple hosts (n = 29, 60.4%) in both academics and private practice. The majority of podcasts …

Telemedicine Training In Ophthalmology Residency Programs, Ryan S. Meshkin, Kanza Aziz, Marguerite C. Weinert, Alice C. Lorch, Grayson W. Armstrong

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, surgical specialties utilized telemedicine sparingly. One study cites prepandemic rates of surgical telehealth use to be less than 1% of new patient encounters,[1] while another study found fewer than 2% of clinicians provided any outpatient care via telemedicine.[2] Within the field of ophthalmology, telemedicine models were largely limited to screening and referral for diabetic retinopathy,[3] age-related macular degeneration,[4] and glaucoma.[5] With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, however, telemedicine utilization for triage, diagnosis, and management of disease increased considerably. An astonishing 34% of new patient encounters across surgical specialties were conducted via telehealth at the …