The effect of interprofessional education on the work environment of health professionals: a scoping review.

To explore the existing literature on the effect of Interprofessional Education (IPE) on the work environment of health professionals. The research question was systematized according to the PCC (Population, Concept, and Context) format. A scoping review was performed. A search of multiple bibliographic databases identified 407 papers, of which 21 met the inclusion criteria. The populations of the 21 studies reviewed were composed of professionals in the fields of medicine, nursing, psychology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and social work, among others. The study contexts were both academic and nonacademic hospitals, mental health institutions, and community settings, and the topics examined were organizational climate, organizational culture, organizational attachment and job satisfaction. The findings from the reviewed studies showed positive effects of IPE interventions on organizational climate and culture, but the results on job satisfaction and organizational attachment were mixed (i.e., positive and no effects following IPE interventions). Research on IPE is worth more attention as IPE could be an effective alternative for the fulfillment of the Quadruple Aim and achieving the third of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, aimed at improving health and well-being. It seems critical for IPE to be positioned as a trend in global health, aiming at boosting human health resources as one of its building blocks and calling the attention of health decision-makers.

How can technology assist occupational voice users?

SUMMARY: The voice is an important tool for people who use it daily in their occupations. However, what technological options are available to such individuals to allow them to monitor or take care of their voices? OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to answer two research questions: (1) What technologies exist to monitor or take care of the voice in occupational voice users? (2) What is the technology readiness level (TRL) of the technologies used to monitor or take care of the voice in occupational voice users? DATA SOURCES: Embase, IEEE, Medline, Proquest, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted. Articles that reported results regarding technologies (hardware, software, or mobile apps) that were used to monitor or take care of the voice in occupational voice users were included. RESULTS: After reviewing 4581 abstracts, 10 full text studies were included in the literature review. The technologies found include 30% hardware, 30% hardware plus software, and 50% mobile apps, with an overall TRL mean of 5.3 (SD = 2.3). CONCLUSION: Further research is necessary for higher validity in the studies and to increase the readiness in the development of current technologies to offer more options for this population.Implications for RehabilitationThe evidence for the impact of the use of the technologies for occupational voice users is still lowThere is emerging evidence that mobile apps and artificial intelligence algorithms can be used to investigate vocal disorders or potential risks in occupational voice usersMore research is required to increase the readiness developmental stage of current technologies for occupational voice users.

A hands-on activity to teach the osmosis phenomenon.

This study proposes a hands-on activity as an experimental alternative method to teach biomedical engineering students the osmosis phenomenon. The students were guided along a learning path that involved their participation in the design and construction of a test device used to measure osmotic flow rate. Thereafter, an experiment was conducted with the test device. The students analyzed the obtained experimental values, which provided them with evidence of the functionality of the device. In addition, they were provided with the opportunity to suggest improvements and to propose alternatives to expand the use of the device to test other transport phenomena such as diffusion. Moreover, a student perception survey was conducted, and the results showed that this proposed plan allows for a better understanding of the phenomenon and stimulates the curiosity of students, improving the receptiveness, key in the learning process of the students.