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PubMed2003

Alcohol and drug use among vocational dental practitioners.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of alcohol and drug use in vocational dental practitioners (VDPs). DESIGN: Anonymous self-report questionnaire. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All UK vocational dental practitioners (n = 719) who started practice in the summer of 1999 were questioned on their use of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and other illicit drugs whilst a VDP and before graduation. RESULTS: Eighty-nine per cent of males and 88% of females reported alcohol use. Of these, 35% of males and 36% of females drank above sensible levels (up to 21 units per week for males, 14 units for females), with 48% of males and 52% of females "binge drinking". Thirty-three per cent of respondents reported cannabis use whilst a VDP. Regular drug use (use at least once a month) other than cannabis whilst a VDP was found to be highest among males, with regular ecstasy use reported by 4% and regular cocaine use reported by 2%. Regular tobacco use (ten or more cigarettes per day) was reported by 9% of VDPs. Regular tobacco users were found to be six times more likely to use cannabis on a regular basis, three times more likely to use ecstasy on a regular basis and four times more likely to use cocaine on a regular basis than those VDPs who reported non regular tobacco use. CONCLUSION: VDPs are drinking above sensible limits, binge drinking, using tobacco and indulging in illicit drug use to a degree that will cause health problems. However, use of all substances had reduced since qualification.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMed2004

The patient assessment questionnaire: a new instrument for evaluating the interpersonal skills of vocational dental practitioners.

This paper describes a pilot study aimed at evaluating a new instrument, the patient assessment questionnaire (PAQ), which uses patient ratings for the assessment of communication skills and professionalism in vocational practitioners (VDPs). The PAQ was developed as part of an assessment system designed to address all round competence. Acohort of 99 VDPs took part in the study. Questionnaires were distributed to consecutive patients in the general dental service at two time points in the training year. Data from the pilot study was analysed to determine whether the PAQ fulfilled the criteria for robust assessment. Results provide evidence of high levels of reliability, validity and feasibility of the PAQ instrument. All indications to date suggest that the PAQ will prove to be a valuable assessment tool. It is currently being evaluated as part of the system used to assess the all round competence of dental graduates undertaking vocational training in Scotland.

Clinical Competence↗

PubMed2005

A cohort investigation of the changes in vocational dental practitioners' views on repairing defective direct composite restorations.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate changes in vocational dental practitioners (VDPs) views on repairing direct composite restorations (DCRs) during the vocational training (VT) year 2002-2003. DESIGN: A questionnaire-based cohort study. METHOD: Data on the repair of DCRs, including indications and details of operative techniques were collected by a questionnaire sent at the beginning of the VT year (September 2002) to all 12 Postgraduate Dental Deans in England. A follow-up questionnaire was sent to the Deans near the end of the VT year (May 2003). They were asked, on both occasions, to distribute the questionnaires among their VDPs and to return the completed questionnaires. RESULTS: Ten deaneries participated in the study. The September 2002 and May 2003 findings (306 respondents [66%] and 313 respondents [67%] respectively) were analysed using Chi-square statistic and t-test to identify any significant differences (P<0.05). Significant changes in the attitudes of the VDPs during the VT year included a shift to viewing reduction in treatment time (30% to 48%), cost to patient (12% to 20%) and the management of the partial loss of a restoration (57% to 70%) as indications for repairs. In contrast, there was a significant change in viewing secondary caries as an indication for repair (46% to 29%). In addition, there was a significant, worrisome shift in relation to the use of bonding systems and finishing instruments, together with a reduction in the anticipated longevity of composite repairs. CONCLUSION: Aspects of VDPs' attitudes to the repair of DCRs were found to change significantly during the VT year. Not all aspects of the changes observed were considered to be positive. Knowledge and understanding of repairs to DCRs need to be strengthened.

Administrative Personnel↗

PubMed1998

Neuropsychological, psychosocial and vocational correlates of the Glasgow Outcome Scale at 6 months post-injury: a study of moderate to severe traumatic brain injury patients.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) subjects at Glasgow Outcome Scale levels 3 (severe disability), 4 (moderate disability), 5 (good recovery), and an other-injury control group (OIC) were compared in terms of neuropsychological, psychosocial, and vocational functioning 6 months after injury. Subjects were a sample of 100 patients with a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and a matched sample of 30 other-injury control subjects (OIC) enrolled in the UCLA Brain Injury Research Center study of TBI outcome. Overall, the results showed a systematic decrease in mean neuropsychological test performance as a function of increasing GOS severity, as well as an increased prevalence of symptoms of depression and lower ratings on measures assessing employability and capacity for self care. TBI patients in the 'severe' and 'moderate disability' groups were distinctly inferior to the 'good recovery' and 'OIC' groups, who were quite similar to each other in terms of cognitive, psychosocial, and vocational outcomes. The results demonstrate overall support for the predictive and concurrent validity of the GOS 6 months post injury. Despite these results, which strengthen the utility and appeal of the GOS for multicentre studies, concerns still remain regarding GOS category 4 (moderate disability), which was shown to lack sufficient discriminability in this study.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1999

Paraformaldehyde sterilant use in vocational high school program.

Formaldehyde fumigants are required by many state licensing boards to be used in cosmetology and hair dressing kits to sterilize tools, utensils, combs, and brushes. In vocational training programs, a large number of kits or toolboxes are concentrated in one classroom. This article provides a mathematical exposure model based upon determining the generation rate of formaldehyde vapor, the air exchange rate of the classroom, and the number of fumigant containers. It is determined that in a well-mixed and ventilated classroom with 3.5 air changes per hour, the Threshold Limit Ceiling Value will not be exceeded. Nevertheless, because of uncertainty regarding the concentration and duration of exposure necessary to achieve immune sensitization of students, alternative sterilant methods are preferred. The mathematical model can be used to estimate the airborne concentration of formaldehyde at other vocational, cosmetology, or tonsorial establishments.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

PubMed2006

Krachtvoer: process evaluation of a Dutch programme for lower vocational schools to promote healthful diet.

The aim of this study was to examine the fidelity and completeness of the implementation of a school-based healthful diet promotion programme called 'Krachtvoer' (we use the Dutch title of the programme throughout this article. A possible translation is Power Food, but this does not reflect the play on words in the Dutch title), aimed at lower vocational training students aged 12-14 years. The teachers' and students' opinions of the programme were also assessed, as well as the association between these opinions and the level of implementation. Data were collected through structured teachers' monitoring reports, in-class observations and in-depth interviews with teachers. Further data were drawn from a student questionnaire included in a concurrent cluster-randomized baseline post-test experimental study evaluating the effects of the programme. The present study indicates that the teachers implemented the programme largely according to plan, that the teachers appreciated most parts of the programme and that the students who were exposed to the programme were more appreciative of their nutrition education lessons than students who followed the usual curriculum. However, programme elements that teachers did not like were often not implemented. We conclude that the Krachtvoer programme is a promising tool to encourage students in lower vocational training to adopt diets that are more healthful. The present study revealed the stronger and weaker parts of the programme and can thus guide programme improvement.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Social influences and self-efficacy as predictors of youth smoking initiation and cessation: a 3-year longitudinal study of vocational high school students in Taiwan.

AIMS: This 3-year longitudinal study examined changes in patterns of risk factors and protective factors of smoking initiation and cessation among vocational high school students in Taipei, Taiwan. DESIGN AND SETTING: In 2000, a total of 2151 10th grade students from 16 vocational high schools were assessed and followed up in the 11th and 12th grades. Self-administered questionnaires were collected in each year to assess the pattern of changes in smoking behaviors, and risk and protective factors. FINDINGS: Of the 1654 non-smokers in the 10th grade, 227 students initiated smoking by the 12th grade. Higher risk factors such as peer smoking, peers offering cigarettes, alcohol use and lower protective factors, such as refusal self-efficacy, antismoking attitude and belief in the 10th grade predicted youth initiation by grade 12. Increases in risk factors and decreases in protective factors during the years from 10th to 12th grades were associated significantly with youth smoking initiation. Of the 494 smokers in the 10th grade, 76 students quit smoking by the 12th grade. Lower risk factors and higher protective factors in 10th grade smokers predict youth smoking cessation by grade 12. Decreases in risk factors and increases in protective factors were associated significantly with youth smoking cessation. CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors (i.e. social influences) and protective factors (i.e. self-efficacy) examined in this study predict both youth smoking initiation and youth smoking cessation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1983

A study in the relationship between emotional stability, intellectual ability, academic attainment, personal contentment and vocational aspirations.

This study investigated the relationship between ability, attainment and emotional stability, as measured by neuroticism, in underachieving, emotionally disturbed children. Forty children participated in four groups (mean age: 12.6, SD: 2.4; mean IQ: 103.3, SD: 13.6). Three experimental groups received different treatments in a therapeutic community, the fourth (control group) comprised children attending remedial units in mainstream education. For group 1 emphasis was on individualized education; for group 2 on psychological treatment and for group 3 on individualized education and psychological treatment combined. Pre- and post-experiment assessments were made on emotional stability, intelligence, reading, spelling and maths quotients, vocational aspirations and contentment with life. All the experimental groups showed significant improvements on all the criteria assessed. Group 3 improved most, P less than 0.001 on all criteria except contentment and vocational aspirations (P less than 0.01). The control group showed a deterioration over the experimental year on all criteria but mostly not at a significant level.

Achievement↗

PubMed1991

Employment experiences of vocationally trained doctors.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the expectations and employment experiences of male and female doctors who completed vocational training in East Anglia during 1981-7 and to examine the factors which had influenced those who had changed direction early in their careers. DESIGN: Survey conducted by confidential postal questionnaire. SETTING: Britain. SUBJECTS: 281 doctors, 233 (83%) of whom responded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Ideal choice of work on completion of vocational training; present employment; factors which had restricted present choice of work; factors associated with reported satisfaction with job. RESULTS: 77/83 (93%) men and 130/150 (87%) women had hoped to work in general practice (p = 0.75). A smaller proportion of women (71%; 106) than men (89%; 74) were in general practice posts (p less than 0.01); only 6% (nine) of women were on maternity leave or caring for children without paid employment. More women than men were working in medical jobs other than general practice (18% (27) women v 4% (three) men; p less than 0.01). 44/91 (49%) women with children had achieved their employment goals compared with 47/59 (80%) women without children and 55/71 (78%) men with children. 87% (72/83) of men and 65% (98/150) of women had achieved the status of principal (p less than 0.01). 162/193 (84%) doctors who had worked in general practice reported satisfaction with their jobs. Dissatisfaction was linked with doing a job different from that hoped for and with perceiving that the share of practice income did not accurately reflect their share of the practice workload. CONCLUSIONS: Steps need to be taken to retain women in general practice, including a statutory part time pay allowance and incentives for practices to allow flexible working hours for doctors with young children.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

The hospital component of vocational training for general practice.

Trainees and educationalists in general practice have some grounds for suggesting that the hospital component of vocational training should be restructured and teaching improved. However, the implications for other trainees and secondary care have to be considered. Changes that are needed include a curriculum for senior house officers in each specialty; appointment of training consultants with the necessary skills; and a different attitude by everyone towards study leave, including arrangements for funding. The optimum duration of hospital posts for trainees in general practice might be shorter than now, but the effects on others must be considered and competencies guaranteed in a briefer training period. Changes in the regulations for vocational training could help to improve specialist experience if trainees in general practice were allowed to be supernumerary. Alternatively, senior house officer posts for trainees in general practice could be split between secondary and primary care, thus encouraging a broader perspective.

Clinical Clerkship↗

PubMed1999

Changes in cardiorespiratory fitness, psychological wellbeing, quality of life, and vocational status following a 12 month cardiac exercise rehabilitation programme.

OBJECTIVE: To examine and evaluate improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, psychological wellbeing, quality of life, and vocational status in postmyocardial infarction patients during and after a comprehensive 12 month exercise rehabilitation programme. SUBJECTS: The sample population comprised 124 patients with a clinical diagnosis of myocardial infarction (122 men and two women). INTERVENTIONS: 62 patients were randomly allocated to a regular weekly aerobic training programme, three times a week for 12 months, and compared with 62 matched controls who did not receive any formal exercise training. A five year follow up questionnaire/interview was subsequently conducted on this population to determine selected vocational/lifestyle changes. RESULTS: Significant improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.01-0.001), psychological profiles (p < 0.05-0.001), and quality of life scores (p < 0.001) were recorded in the treatment population when compared with their matched controls. Although there were no significant differences in mortality, a larger percentage of the regular exercisers resumed full time employment and they returned to work earlier than the controls. Controls took lighter jobs, lost more time from work, and suffered more non-fatal reinfarctions (p < 0.05-0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Regularly supervised and prolonged aerobic exercise training improves cardiorespiratory fitness, psychological status, and quality of life. The trained population also had a reduction in morbidity following myocardial infarction, and significant improvement in vocational status over a five year follow up period.

Chi-Square Distribution↗

PubMed1988

Imipramine and social-vocational adjustment in chronic depression.

The authors compared the effects of 6 weeks of imipramine treatment with 6 weeks of placebo treatment on social and vocational impairment in chronic depression. Imipramine was associated with significantly greater pre- to posttreatment improvement of social-vocational impairments in chronic depression, suggesting that these impairments may have represented affective symptoms rather than characterologic deficits.

Adult↗

PubMed1976

Psychodynamic inferences from the Strong Vocational Interest Blank.

A systematic psychodynamic approach to personality appraisal using the Strong Vocational Interest Blank is presented. The psychoanalytic concepts of transformation of infantile impulses, ego style, and structural self-representation are discussed in relation to issues of vocational choice. A method for making psychodynamic inferences from the SVIB is then put forth. To illustrate the method, "blind" personality evaluations, of three late adolescents, using only their SVIB profiles, are presented. The results of each appraisal are discussed in relation to independent information about the client and the counseling process.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Vocational training: the case scenario workshop.

This article describes the procedure for conducting a workshop for a vocational training group, using six clinical case scenarios harvested from the vocational training group's own experience. During the session, the main group (which includes trainers) breaks up into smaller groups to discuss the management of each case, then a spokesperson presents the management solutions back to the re-assembled larger group: further interaction and discussion then takes place. This article discusses six typical case scenarios from a recent workshop. The case scenario workshop is an exciting way to encourage discussion and interaction with all parties involved.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

The assessment of dental vocational training: a personal view.

UNLABELLED: Following graduation, dentists wishing to practise with the National Health Services Regulations in the U.K. must complete one year of vocational training. This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the current system and proposes a new form of assessment. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Dental Vocational Training in the U.K. provides a learning working environment for the new graduate, in which clinical skills may be optimized.

Clinical Competence↗

PubMed2004

An audit of antibiotic prescribing by vocational dental practitioners.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate antibiotic prescribing of a group of vocational dental practitioners (VDPs) and assess the implications for postgraduate education. DESIGN: A prospective audit was carried out by VDPs in general dental practice in 2003. RESULTS: A total of seven vocational training schemes comprising 64 VDPs took part. Most showed some awareness of the indications for therapeutic prescribing but the prescribing patterns of a number were influenced by the pressure of time and workload and difficulty in making a definitive diagnosis. There were wide variations in the therapeutic antibiotic regimens used, with most not conforming to the guidelines available. The majority of VDPs showed a good understanding of the requirement for prescribing prophylactic antibiotics for patients with a cardiac defect but a number also prescribed when there were no medical indications to do so. CONCLUSIONS: From this audit it is clear that, on occasions, the prescribing of antibiotics by VDPs was not consistent with current knowledge and within the guidelines available. This calls into question the efficacy of present undergraduate teaching or the retention of knowledge. The results suggest that formal education on antibiotic prescribing in general dental practice should take place during the VT year.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1993

Late CT findings in brain trauma: relationship to cognitive and behavioral sequelae and to vocational outcome.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of correlation between cerebral atrophy observed on CT scans after severe blunt brain trauma and later neuropsychological status, as well as to evaluate the relative prognostic values of a number of indexes of cerebral atrophy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group comprised 32 previously healthy men 18-65 years old who had severe blunt trauma of the brain (initial scores on Glasgow coma scale of 7 or less). Their cognitive and behavioral statuses were evaluated when the patients were discharged from the hospital, which occurred when the recovery process showed a plateau. Overall vocational status was evaluated 1 year after discharge. The clinical evaluation was performed by a multidisciplinary team. Multiple linear indexes derived from brain CT scans obtained about 3 months after injury in patients with blunt brain trauma were correlated with cognitive and behavioral sequelae of brain damage and with vocational placement, as evaluated by a rehabilitation team about 1 year after trauma. RESULTS: A high correlation was found between the width of the third ventricle and outcome. The prognostic value of the width of the third ventricle was superior to that of any other index studied, and it correlated best with late cognitive status (Spearman r = .57, p < .01). CONCLUSION: The width of the third ventricle is a useful prognostic index in cases of diffuse brain trauma. It indicates diencephalic atrophy, caused either by diffuse axonal injury or by hypoxia. It may indicate a role of diencephalic structures in higher cortical functions.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Perceived gender of a pastor's name and ratings of vocational success.

Undergraduate students (16 men and 16 women) from a Christian university read a 1-page description of a pastor named either "Carl Anderson" or "Carol Anderson." Students rated each named pastor on four items summed for a measure of vocational success. We predicted, based on role congruity, that students would rate a female-named pastor lower than a male-named pastor on the measure, but women's ratings of pastoral vocational success were significantly higher. Men's ratings did not differ significantly for the male- and female-named pastors. Power was low so further research is appropriate.

Achievement↗