Search Results (9)

Globally, physical activity is increasingly acknowledged as an effective strategy for combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, there is a significant global disparity in the integration of sport sciences graduates (SSGs) into national health systems. This study assessed the professional roles of SSGs within healthcare systems and their association with NCD mortality across (n = 34) countries that met the selection criteria, using a cross-national, ecological, and cross-sectional design. Principal component analysis was conducted to reduce the dimensions of the correlated structural indicators. A pre-specified generalized linear model (Gamma family, log link) with HC3 robust standard errors estimated the association between SSG integration and age-standardized NCD mortality, alongside a descriptive analysis of public funding (national or subnational) for SSG services. The findings indicate that integrating SSGs into primary care was associated with approximately 23% lower age-standardized NCD mortality (rate ratio 0.77, 95% CI 0.63–0.94, p = 0.011; approximately 16% to 23% across model specifications) after adjusting for demographic and economic factors, with near-universal public funding (100% of integrated versus 24% of other countries; Fisher’s exact p < 0.001). To our knowledge, this is the first cross-national analysis to link the functional integration of SSGs into primary care with population NCD mortality, and this relationship remained consistent across multiple robustness checks. The implications suggest that functional integration and its public funding may represent promising policy approaches for strengthening preventive health services. Given the ecological, cross-sectional design, longitudinal studies are warranted to establish causality. Full article

This study investigated the determinants of entrepreneurial intentions and behavior among Saudi sports education students using the Theory of Planned Behavior. The study employed a cross-sectional survey of 372 undergraduate and graduate sports science students from Saudi universities. It extended TPB by including entrepreneurial role models as an independent variable affecting TPB antecedents—attitudes toward behavior, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control and outcomes (ENTIs and actual entrepreneurial behavior, AEB). Data were analyzed using linear and hierarchical regression with mediation testing using bootstrapping. Results showed that all TPB antecedents significantly predicted ENTI, while only ENTI and PBC influenced AEB. ERMs were significantly associated with SNs but had no direct effect on ATB, PBC, or ENTI. Mediation analyses revealed that ATB and PBC partially mediated SNs’ effect on ENTI, whereas SNs fully mediated ERMs’ influence on ATB and PBC. These findings provide theoretical and practical insights by validating the extension of TPB with role models, challenging assumptions about ERMs’ direct effects, and highlighting the importance of fostering entrepreneurial culture in universities. Integrating exposure to positive ERMs can effectively translate students’ intentions into entrepreneurial behavior, supporting the development of sports entrepreneurs. Full article

Innovation in science and technology arises from balanced supports for basic research, applied research, and societal implementation. However, changes in Japanese science policy that shifts toward top–down, evaluation-based, and competitive funding practices appear to have undermined Japan’s long-term research sustainability and innovation potential. The “selection and concentration” strategy (prioritization of specific research areas) and “competition principle”, combined with persistent reduction in Management Expenses Grants, have significantly altered Japan’s research environment for the worse. Together with these policy changes, the introduction of fixed-term contracts in academia has increased instability at both the institutional and the individual levels and has diminished the time and resources available for long-term basic research. Academic careers in science have become less attractive, as evidenced by declining doctoral student enrollment. These changes threaten the potential for scientific discoveries that lead to innovation. Although initiatives such as the introduction of University Research Administrators (URAs) have been implemented to support researchers, such efforts remain insufficient to counterbalance the systemic challenges faced by Japan’s research ecosystem. To re-establish a stable research environment, rethinking the strategy may be necessary, including restoration of stable institutional funding, sustainable career pathways, and balanced funding allocation to basic science that foster seeds for future innovation. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing career expectations, determine the influence of college students’ personal ability on personal evaluation in the process of gaining employment, and further explore the impact of personal evaluation and social support on career expectations. This study used a random sampling method to administer questionnaires to final-year undergraduates majoring in the liberal arts, science, art, and sports at two Chinese universities. Career expectations were positively correlated with satisfaction. The preferred employer for graduates is a school. In selecting a career, college students believed that exerting their talents was most important. Personal evaluations had a significant effect on self-development in career expectations. The level of social support had a significant effect on prestige and welfare stability in career expectations. Full article

University students will play an important role in making decisions that will affect the environment, as future leaders of our society. Their level of sensitivity and environmental knowledge will play an important role in adequately facing future challenges. This article aims to measure the sustainability awareness of a sample of future graduates in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences in Spain. The literature supports that the sensitivity of these students can be estimated by using the Spanish adaptation of the SCQ-S. This allows for establishing the level of knowledge, attitudes and behaviour pertaining to sustainability in three dimensions: environmental, social and economic. The sample consisted of 170 students (58.8% males; 41.2% females) with a mean age of 20.5 years (±4.039). The overall Cronbach’s alpha showed a fairly good value (α = 0.836). The same was true for the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin test values (KMO = 0.816) and Bartlett’s sphericity test (p < 0.001). The knowledge construct (4.56 ± 0.53) was the highest descriptive, followed by attitude (4.12 ± 0.59). The lowest value was behaviour (3.79 ± 0.66). By gender, girls obtained the highest sensitivity indexes. In addition, the place of habitual residence and physical activity in the natural environment were related to the overall behaviour of the university students. It is concluded that being in active contact with the natural environment allows us to have a higher level of awareness. Full article

The study of the effects of a water-based exercise program in overweight/obese people with or without type 2 diabetes is a topic of relatively recent interest. This type of exercise presents some advantages in reducing the risk of injury or trauma, and it can be a valuable therapeutic card to play for sedentary or physically inactive patients who have chronic metabolic diseases. This work aims to make a contribution showing the effects of a water-based exercise intervention, supervised by graduates in sports sciences, in a group of overweight/obese people with or without type 2 diabetes. In total, 93 adults (age 60.59 ± 10.44 years), including 72 women (age 60.19 ± 10.97 years) and 21 men (age 61.95 ± 8.48 years), were recruited to follow a water-based exercise program (2 sessions/week, for 12 weeks) at the C.U.R.I.A.Mo. Healthy Lifestyle Institute of Perugia University. Results showed an improvement in body mass index (−0.90 ± 1.56, p = 0.001), waist circumference (−4.32 ± 6.03, p < 0.001), and systolic (−7.78 ± 13.37, p = 0.001) and diastolic (−6.30 ± 10.91, p = 0.001) blood pressure. The supervised water-based intervention was useful in managing patients with metabolic diseases who often present with other health impairments, such as musculoskeletal problems or cardiovascular or rheumatic disease that could contraindicate gym-based exercise. Full article

Occupational therapists can currently enter clinical practice with either a master’s or clinical doctorate-level degree, as mandated by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA); however, the single vs. dual points of entry remains a topic of debate among practitioners and stakeholders. This systematic review addresses the question of whether existing knowledge around this topic provides defensible policy decision making. As such, the overarching objective was to expound on this current issue in education by aggregating existing literature and synthesizing data related to entry mandates to practice occupational therapy (OT). From 20 May to 20 June 2021, a systematic search of three electronic scientific databases (Web of Science, PubMed, and Sports Medicine and Education Index) and the Google Scholar database was performed. Following the 2020 PRSIMA guidelines, a total of 15 articles met our established inclusion criteria, which included: (1) publication date from 1 January 2008 or later; (2) North American OT programs only; (3) articles that specifically focused on OT and entry-level degree requirements; and (4) articles published in English. Bias was assessed using risk level categorizations recommended by Cochran Collaboration. Participants across the articles included in this review (N = 1749) ranged from OT practitioners and assistants, program directors, and supervisors, to current students, graduates, and faculty. Results were categorized into two central themes related to each side of the debate, and findings indicated that a majority of the participants support maintaining two entry points into the profession, despite compelling arguments having been made for both sides. The authors acknowledge the presence of several limitations in the included studies and advocate that more evidence-based research focusing on objective measures, rather than commentaries and opinions, of clinical performance outcomes between the two OT degree groups is needed to ensure that patient needs continue to be effectively addressed and policy decision making is justifiable. Full article

Introduction: At the beginning of 2020, the worldwide infection of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) changed many aspects of human lives. The controlled lockdown was not only an obligatory lifestyle change to communities across the globe, but it was also an emotional struggle. The aim of the presented study was to identify and compare the main difficulties that final-year students (both Polish and foreigners) of Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze Medical University of Silesia had to cope with during the first wave of the pandemic. Application of the biographical method in the form of essays written was done. Authors discussed the following issues: possible losses and benefits subjectively felt by individuals due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adaptation to online type of studying, students’ opinions regarding change of habits, and psychological impact of the lockdown. Students’ responses varied between groups in the aspect of what they considered as the biggest struggle of the pandemic time period. Adaptation to e-learning was easier for the group of foreign students. The Polish group considered it as a serious stress factor. Foreigners were much more worried about not being able to help their families in comparison to Polish students. Polish students’ fear was related to the fear of virus transmission to their older relatives. Both groups were aware of how serious the situation was and of the possible impact of lack of practical classes on their future internships. As benefits of that situation, both groups listed development of new hobbies and increased sport activities. The Polish group emphasized improvement of interpersonal bonds during the lockdown in their families. The main conclusion proved an awareness of the seriousness of the situation in which students of medical, especially dental faculties found themselves. Concerns were related to the form of further studies and the possibility of taking up employment after graduation. Polish students declared more intense concerns about e-learning and remote study than foreign-language students who were more familiar with this form of communication. A particularly valuable form of teaching for students may be increased numbers of online consultations, since even though they cannot replace practical classes, they may still be helpful in explaining doubts and simply “being there”. Encouraging young people to discover constructive benefits of the pandemic can also be one of a task-oriented strategies of help. Full article

Students’ skills acquisition is one of the main aims of higher education institutions. On the one hand, the development of professional competences is important, but on the other hand, it is known that professionals who feel competent have a more intrinsic motivation in their jobs. The goal of this study was to describe and detail the perceptions of students, graduates, and their university tutors about the level of acquisition by students of professional competences. The methodology was based on a descriptive and comparative study that included a total sample of 2075 participants of the Degree in Primary Teaching and the Degree in Physical Activity and Sport Science. All of them came from 21 different universities of Spain: 345 university tutors, 1243 students, and 487 graduates. The instrument used was a competences perception questionnaire. The statistical analysis included means, standard deviations, and an ANOVA analysis. The results show discrepancies in the perceptions of proficiency levels between students and graduates, on one hand, and university tutors, on the other. Likewise, there was general agreement that competences related to critic capacity and motor games were the most acquired and programs for individuals with special needs were the least acquired. Full article