An international guideline training and certification programme.

This study examined the views of adult patients and relatives about desirable characteristics of specialists in intensive care medicine (ICM) to incorporate these into an international competency-based training programme, CoBaTrICE. Convenience sample of patients and relatives administered after discharge from 70 participating ICUs in eight European countries (1,398 evaluable responses). The structured questionnaire included 21 characteristics of medical competence categorised as 'medical knowledge and skills', 'communication with patients', and 'communication with relatives'. It was available in the national languages of the countries involved. Questions were rated by respondents for importance using a four-point Likert scale. Responses to open questions were also invited. Most characteristics were highly rated, with priority given to medical knowledge and skills. Women were more likely to emphasise communication skills. There were no consistent regional differences. Free-text responses welcomed the opportunity to participate. Patients and relatives with experience of intensive care in different European countries share similar views on the importance of knowledge, skills, decision making and communication in the training of intensive care specialists. These generic patient-centred components of training have been incorporated into the international competency-based ICM training programme, CoBaTrICE.

BackgroundSystematic and internationally standardized clinical research training has not traditionally been widely accessible. With the growing volume and improving quality of clinical research in China, a pressing question facing Chinese clinical investigators is how to enhance the global impact of their research outputs. This study seeks to examine the needs and preferences of Chinese clinical researchers with respect to international clinical research training.MethodsAn online questionnaire was distributed through the “NEJM Medical Frontiers” WeChat platform. The survey collected data on participants’ demographic characteristics, preference to participate in international clinical research, and their training needs and preferences. This study adopted a non-probability sampling approach, primarily utilizing a WeChat public platform to disseminate the questionnaire and invite user participation within a defined time frame. To further expand the sample, a peer referral strategy was employed, whereby participants were encouraged to share the survey with their contacts. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with clinical researchers’ preferences for international training.ResultsBetween January 11 and February 7, 2023, 324 questionnaires were completed, of which 312 were valid(physicians (66.7%, n = 208), with the remainder from universities, research institutes, or pharmaceutical-related companies (33.3%, n = 104)). Overall, 247 respondents (78.9%) expressed interest in international clinical research training. Those with a doctoral degree and first-author experience in Science Citation Index (SCI) publications (68.4%, n = 121, P = 0.040), particularly those with 1–9 publications (72.2%, n = 109, P = 0.028), were significantly more likely to show interest. These respondents also prioritized learning clinical research design methods (mean score: 7.28 vs. 6.52, P = 0.009), especially randomized controlled trials (n = 118, P = 0.048).ConclusionThe findings suggest a potential demand for high-quality international clinical research training among certain groups of Chinese clinical researchers. Respondents with higher educational qualifications and SCI publication experience appeared more likely to express interest in engaging in rigorous research and in participating in international training programs. Their training priorities were primarily related to study design, with particular emphasis on the conduct of large-scale randomized controlled trials(RCTs).Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-025-07570-4.

Introduction. Proper training to improve safety of NAPS (nurse-administered propofol sedation) is essential. Objective. To communicate our experience with a training program of NAPS. Materials and methods. In 2007, a training program was introduced for endoscopists and endoscopy nurses in collaboration with the Department of Anaesthesiology. During a 2.5-year period, eight nurses were trained. Propofol was given as monotherapy. The training program for nurses consisted of a 6-week course including theoretical and practical training whereas the training program for endoscopists consisted of 2.5 h of theory. Patients were selected based on strict criteria including patients in ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) group I–III. Results. 2527 patients undergoing 2.656 gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures were included. The patients were ASA group I, II and III in 34.7%, 56% and 9,3%, respectively. Median dose of propofol was 300 mg. No mortality was noted. 119 of 2527 patients developed short lasting hypoxia (4.7%); 61 (2.4%) needed suction; 22 (0.9%) required bag-mask ventilation and 8 (0.3%) procedures had to be discontinued. In 11 patients (0.4%), anesthetic assistance was called due to short lasting desaturation. 34 patients (1.3%) experienced a change in blood pressure greater than 30%. Conclusion. NAPS provided by properly trained nurses according to the present protocol is safe and only associated with a minor risk (short lasting hypoxia 4.7%). National or international structured training programs are at present few or non-existing. The present training program has documented its value and is suggested as the basis for the current development of guidelines.

International exchange and training programs play a significant role in the development of international cooperation between educators from different nations. More and more teachers and school administrators participate in exchange programs and implement new curricular and instructional practices in their institutions. This paper presents findings of a phenomenological interpretive case study of the impact of international exchange programs for educators on their participants’ pedagogical practices, social status and professional careers. The study was conducted in 2005 in the US and Russia. Through observations and in‐depth interviews with 35 informants, the author compares the perception of exchange programs and their outcomes for American and Russian alumni. The findings demonstrate differences and similarities in participants’ perspectives on their roles in international programs and on the application of program outcomes.

OBJECTIVETo describe the research conducted to structure and develop a statewide tobacco training and certification programme for tobacco treatment specialists (TTSs) in Massachusetts.DESIGNQualitative research strategies were used to obtain information...

Training and career issues in laboratory medicine within the Nigerian healthcare system often mitigate against efficient utilisation of scarce resources from in-fighting and friction among the different professionals. Within chemical pathology, there are three categories of practitioners: medical consultants (post-MBBS), laboratory scientists (post-PhD) and medical laboratory science officers (MLSOs). While the designation and career progression of the MBBS graduates and MLSOs are clear, there are no such guidelines for the PhD scientist, essentially because they (the latter) have no specific training and certification programmes resulting in frustration. To address this deficit, this review evaluates current local and international training programmes for the scientific and medical specialists in chemical pathology, in relation to the peculiarities in Nigeria. This review, therefore, suggests and outlines locally appropriate training and certification programmes for the scientists to enhance their career recognition and progress. For the medical specialists, the author suggests curricular reform to enhance relevance at the direct patient care interface.

The rapid advancement of dental science in South Korea, often referred to as “K-Dentistry,” highlights the growing importance of research-driven dental education and workforce development. Despite the increasing demand for dental healthcare services due to aging populations, the domestic training system for dentist-scientists remains insufficient compared to its medical counterpart. Physician-scientist training programs, particularly the MD-PhD model, have successfully integrated clinical practice with biomedical research, providing a valuable framework for developing dentist-scientist training programs (DDS-PhD). However, previous efforts to establish DDS-PhD programs in South Korea have faced significant challenges, including high tuition costs, a lack of institutional support, and the tendency of graduates to enter private practice rather than research. This article reviews domestic and international physician-scientist training programs and research trends to propose a structured framework for training dentist-scientists. By benchmarking successful MD-PhD and DDS-PhD models from leading countries, we aim to identify key strategies for fostering interdisciplinary research, strengthening financial and institutional support, and enhancing collaboration between universities, hospitals, and industry. Additionally, this study examines the role of the recently established National Institute of Dental Research in facilitating policy development and innovation in dental science. The findings of this research provide actionable insights for policymakers and educators to establish a sustainable training system for dentist-scientists, ensuring the integration of clinical expertise with research innovation to advance global oral healthcare and treatment solutions.

PurposeContinuing professional development is essential for improving health care services, especially in developing countries. Most of the training programs in Mongolia were not based on a targeted needs assessment. Therefore, we aimed to apply a mixed methods design to assess the training needs of Mongolian health professions.MethodsWe conducted a needs assessment using a convergent parallel mixed methods design in two steps. The survey and interview questions were developed to identify priority areas, targeted trainees, and effective training methods. A survey on 60 respondents, 15 individual interviews, and a focus group interview with 14 participants were conducted in the first step. In the second step, 12 representatives of key stakeholders were invited to a second focus group interview.ResultsCurrent health policy areas, areas related to future national plans, and areas not currently receiving governmental or international support were suggested as the main priorities. The stakeholder suggested that trainees should be selected based on their professional experience and language level, as well as each hospital’s needs. Building teams including various professions, such as nurses, technicians, and biomedical engineers, was recommended as a way to exchange ideas with each other and to build teamwork for future collaboration.ConclusionMedical training needs are dynamic and complex; therefore, a deep understanding of the context and setting is necessary. In this study, we assessed the targeted training needs of Mongolian health professions through a mixed methods design, which could be an effective way to conduct needs assessments for training programs.

This paper examines the UNESCO–ICCROM Asian Academy for Heritage Management Cultural Heritage Specialist Training and Certification Programme, which is designed to establish interpretation and presentation standards at World Heritage Sites in Asia. It describes the programme and its major objectives and discusses the inauguration of the training programme at regional (cross-national) and national levels, noting specifically the importance of training and certification programmes at the national level. Although the training programme has been well received and is considered beneficial, the authors address two continuing challenges to its ultimate success – how can one best design and deliver effective training workshops at both the regional and national levels and, perhaps more importantly, how can one best establish effective training programmes at the national level. Citing the success of the training programme in Macao SAR, the authors demonstrate that such success depends on a number of factors, including the existence of a structured and institutionalised guide training programme at the national level, the availability of a team of qualified trainers and the delivery of the training programme in a local language.

Understanding social system drivers of green building innovation adoption in emerging market countries: The role of foreign direct investment

This article reports the outcomes of qualitative research on the teaching of "vulnerability in research" undertaken with principal investigators of international bioethics training programs funded by the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the United States. To properly contextualize this research, we begin with an overview of the various ways in which vulnerability has been conceptualized both by writers and by ethical guidance from low-, middle-, and high-income countries. We conclude with some preliminary suggestions for best practice and recommendations for further research. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time research of this kind has been carried out.

Basketball arenas are crucial spaces that must meet specific standards to ensure the sustainability of the sport and the quality of play. While Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) assesses these standards, it often assumes that all performance indicators are equally important, potentially leading to a gap between design intent and actual user experience. This study aims to bridge this gap by using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to prioritize evaluation criteria for Turkish professional basketball arenas designed for national and international matches, regional/local competitions, and training programs. Existing studies and reports indicate that basketball arenas in Turkey often fall short in meeting necessary physical requirements and exhibit performance deficiencies. To address this gap, this study identifies factors determining arena performance, categorized as technical, functional, and behavioral based on Preiser's framework. These criteria were further categorized according to different spaces within the arena, including general use areas, administrative spaces, and athlete-specific areas. A panel of expert sports facility design professionals provided judgments about the relative importance of these criteria using pairwise comparisons. The AHP method was then employed to calculate priority weights for each criterion. The results reveal the relative importance of different criteria for each space. For example, in general use areas, "furniture suitability/sufficiency" and "provision of ergonomic conditions for the disabled" ranked highest. In administrative spaces, "fire protection" and "accessibility" were deemed most important, while in athlete-specific areas, "visual and auditory privacy" and "security" took precedence. This study demonstrates the potential of AHP for developing a systematic and reliable framework for qualitative evaluations that measure user satisfaction. AHP-based evaluation models offer a valuable tool for architects, facility managers, and decision-makers to assess architectural design quality, prioritize design criteria, and support user-centered design processes.

A Comparative Review of Palliative Care Development in Six Countries Represented by the Middle East Cancer Consortium (MECC)

Objective In 2011, “Suicide CARE” (Standardized Suicide Prevention Program for Gatekeeper Intervention in Korea) was originally developed for the early detection of warning signs of suicide completion, since there is a tendency to regard emotional suppression as a virtue of Korean traditional culture. A total of 1.2 million individuals completed the training program of “Suicide CARE” in Korea. Methods More sophisticated suicide prevention approaches according to age, sex, and occupation have been proposed, demanding for a more detailed revision of “Suicide CARE.” Thus, during the period from August 2019 to February 2020, “Suicide CARE” has been updated to version 2.0. The assessments on domestic gatekeeper training programs for suicide prevention, international gatekeeper training programs for suicide prevention, psychological autopsy interview reports between 2015 and 2018, and the evaluation of feedback from people who completed “Suicide CARE” version 1.6 training were performed. Results We describe the revision process of “Suicide CARE,” revealing that “Suicide CARE” version 2.0 has been developed using an evidence-based methodology. Conclusion It is expected that “Suicide CARE” version 2.0 be positioned as the basic framework for many developing gatekeeper training programs for suicide prevention in Korea in the near future.

When looking for qualified specialists in the field of IT and information security employers give preferences to candidates with professional certificates from reliable and worldwide recognized organisations. Attracting certified professionals allows the company to make the most efficient use of its staff and thereby increase its competitiveness. For qualified specialist, the certificate is a guarantee of his competence and the basis of confidence in a successful professional career. Today, the market of IT and information security professional certification offers both certification programs from well-known software or hardware manufacturers, as well as vendor-neutral certifications, developed by expert organizations in this field and not related to the products of individual manufacturers. Vendor-neutral certification programs provide a comprehensive approach to information security and ensure that certified specialists acquire understanding of technical and managerial aspects of information protection, as well as possess a wide range of diverse knowledge and practical skills. The article researches the most popular and demanded on the market certification courses in information security from (ISC)2, ISACA, EC-Council and CompTIA. The authors found that reviewed certifications have the following common features: short training period of the certification programs, usually 5-7 days; joining both basic and specialized components within the courses; the use of well-known and mostly open hardware and software during training; combining various forms and methods of training: face-to-face and distance learning with an instructor, self-study, online tests and special learning platforms; conducting a comprehensive exam with the issuance of a certificate; three-year validity period of the certificate which must be confirmed through participation in scientific and practical activities in the specialty. The study of international certification for information security specialists in Ukraine showed that there are several companies-authorized providers of certification services: ISSP Training Center, Fast Lane Group, Kyiv Chapter of ISACA, PwC Ukraine, which certify information security professionals through vendor-neutral courses, as well as certification programs of software and hardware developers.