PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a peer helper training program on existential spiritual well-being, peer relationship, and depression for students attending a specialized girls vocational high school. METHODS: The participants were forty-two students attending a specialized girls vocational high school in D city. Data were collected form october 23 to December 24, 2013. To test the effects of the peer helper training program, the participants were divided into two mached groups, an experimental group (21) and a control group (21). Data were analyzed using chi2-test, Fisher exact probability test, and t-test with the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. RESULTS: After attending the peer helper training program, significant differences between the experimental group and the control group were found for existential spiritual well-being (t=3.35, p=.002) and peer relationship (t=2.29, p=.028). However, there was no significant differences in depression between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the peer helper training program enhances existential spiritual well-being and peer relationship for students attending a specialized girls vocational high school. Therefore, this program is a good strategy that teachers and community mental health nurses can use to increase existential spiritual well-being and peer relationship of these high school girls.
Depression* ; Education* ; Female* ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Peer Group ; Spirituality ; Vocational Education

BACKGROUND: Young people are at an increased risk for illness in working life. The authorities stipulate certain goals for training in occupational health and safety (OHS) in vocational schools. A previous study concluded that pupils in vocational education had limited knowledge in the prevention of health risks at work. The aim of the current study, therefore, was to study how OHS training is organized in school and in workplace-based learning (WPL). METHODS: The study design featured a qualitative approach, which included interviews with 12 headmasters, 20 teachers, and 20 supervisors at companies in which the pupils had their WPL. The study was conducted at 10 upper secondary schools, located in Central Sweden, that were graduating pupils in four vocational programs. RESULTS: The interviews with headmasters, teachers, and supervisors indicate a staggered picture of how pupils are prepared for safe work. The headmasters generally give teachers the responsibility for how goals should be reached. Teaching is very much based on risk factors that are present in the workshops and on teachers' own experiences and knowledge. The teaching during WPL also lacks the systematic training in OHS as well as in the traditional classroom environment. CONCLUSION: Teachers and supervisors did not plan the training in OHS in accordance with the provisions of systematic work environment management. Instead, the teachers based the training on their own experiences. Most of the supervisors did not receive information from the schools as to what should be included when introducing OHS issues in WPL.
Education ; Humans ; Learning ; Occupational Health* ; Pupil* ; Risk Factors ; Sweden ; Vocational Education*

While depression is certainly a prevalent disorder, it is often severe and debilitating and does not always have the good prognosis we have been led to expect. Social approaches to affective disorders have not been subjected to the same level of scrutiny as the interventions used in the management of schizophrenia. Psychosocial Rehabilitation is now at a critical stage. Psychoeducation, social skill training, cognitive remediation, family education, vocational rehabilitation and case management programs are essential for the rehabilitation of chronic depression.
Case Management ; Depression* ; Humans ; Mood Disorders ; Prognosis ; Rehabilitation* ; Schizophrenia ; Vocational Education

OBJECTIVES: In the previous studies, it has been suggested that temperament and character may affect specialty choice in medical students. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of temperament and character on specialty interests in medical students. METHODS: A total 132 third-year medical students initially participated in this study. Among these participants, 128 students had filled out both demographic and Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) questionnaires. Socio-demographic data, specialty interests and Cloninger's TCI scores were obtained. The specialty interests were categorized into surgical, medical and other departments. RESULTS: Among 128 students, 88 (68.7%), 29 (22.7%) and 22 (8.6%) students chose medical, surgical and other departments, respectively. Students choosing surgery departments showed lower Harm Avoidance scores (F = 4.39, df = 1, p = 0.04) and higher Self-Directedness scores (F = 4.30, df = 1, p = 0.04) than those who chose medical departments. There was no significant differences in Novelty Seeking, Reward dependence, Persistence, Cooperativeness, Self-Transcendence scores between groups. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that has demonstrated the relationship between TCI scores and specialty interests of medical students in Korea. The current study suggests that temperament and character influence specialty interests in medical students. These findings could have implications for medical education research and career counseling.
Education, Medical ; Humans ; Korea ; Reward ; Specialties, Surgical ; Students, Medical ; Temperament ; Vocational Guidance

PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop a systematic career-coaching program (SCCP) that can be used by medical teaching schools to address a growing need for career-coaching. The program objectives were to help students (1) develop a comprehensive self-understanding of their aptitudes, interests, and personality traits; (2) explore possible career choices and decide on a career path; and (3) develop the competencies needed to prepare for their future careers. METHODS: The SCCP was based on the ADDIE (analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation) model and decision-making questioning model. Medical professionals, medical education and career counseling experts, and students participated in designing the program. RESULTS: The SCCP describes coaching content, tools, operational methods, and appropriate timing, and identifies the professionals and specialists who can offer their expertise in the different coaching phases. It is designed to allow medical schools to offer the program in segments or in its entirety, depending on the curriculum and environment. CONCLUSION: The SCCP represents a viable career-coaching program for medical students that can be applied in part or in its entirety, depending on a medical school’s curriculum and educational environment.
Aptitude ; Career Choice ; Counseling ; Curriculum ; Education, Medical ; Humans ; Professionalism ; Schools, Medical ; Specialization ; Students, Medical* ; Vocational Guidance

BACKGROUND: Young male and female workers are over-represented in statistics concerning negative outcomes of poor work environment and risky work. Young workers often have low awareness of risk, a lack of safety training, and inadequate introduction to the work. The aim of this study was to identify the knowledge and experiences of pupils of vocational schools concerning potential work environment risks in their future work. METHODS: The study design was a dual one, and included a questionnaire and focus group interviews. The study group consisted of 239 pupils from 10 upper secondary schools, who were graduating pupils in four vocational programs: the Industrial Technology Programme, the Restaurant Management and Food Programme, the Transport Programme, and the Handicraft Programme (in which students specialize in wood products). The upper secondary schools were located in the central region of Sweden. RESULTS: The pupils had limited knowledge that employers must, by law, conduct risk analyses and prevent risks. Many felt that they themselves are mainly responsible for performing their tasks safely. Pupils in all programs mentioned acute risk as the greatest risk at work. The theoretical education about safety at work was provided in the 1st year of the 3-year vocational programs. CONCLUSION: A systematic approach to pupils' training in work environment, which is a basis for a safe and healthy workplace, is lacking. The study findings indicate that pupils are offered knowledge far from that intended by laws and by state-of-the-art occupational health risk research.
Education ; Female ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Male ; Occupational Health ; Pupil* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Restaurants ; Sweden ; Vocational Education* ; Wood

BACKGROUND: Occupational skin diseases (OSDs) are frequent in professions with exposure to skin hazards. Thus, a health educational intervention for apprentices of high-risk professions was conducted. It was the aim of this study to gain insight into possible effects of this intervention. METHODS: A one-time skin protection seminar was conducted in 140 apprentices of health-related and non-health–related professions [trained cohort (TC)]. In addition, 134 apprentices of the same occupations were monitored [untrained cohort (UTC)]. The OSD-specific knowledge and the skin condition of the hands were assessed at baseline (T0), after the seminar (T1), and after 6 (T2) and 12 months (T3). RESULTS: The OSD-specific knowledge increased in all cohorts from T0 to T3, but we found a significantly higher knowledge in the TC at T2 (p < 0.001, t = 3.6, df = 196, 95% confidence interval = 0.9, 3.3) and T3 (p < 0.001, t = 3.8, df = 196, 95% confidence interval = 1.0, 3.2) compared to the UTC. Our results indicated a better skin condition of the hands in the TC of the health-related professions but not in the non-health–related professions. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that an educational intervention may positively influence the disease-specific knowledge and the prevalence of OSD in apprentices. However, definite conclusions cannot be drawn because of the heterogeneous study cohorts and the study design. Future research should aim at tailoring primary prevention to specific target groups, e.g., in view of the duration and frequency of skin protection education, different professions, and gender-specific prevention approaches.
Cohort Studies ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Education ; Hand ; Longitudinal Studies* ; Occupations ; Prevalence ; Primary Prevention ; Prospective Studies* ; Skin Diseases* ; Skin* ; Vocational Education

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a personality type test book, which is widely used in the field of personal counseling, team organization, school education and research. This study carried out MBTI of 361 medical students in the second grade of premedical course of Keimyung University School of Medicine from 2014 to 2018, and analyzed the data to use them for the students' education. The personality type was mostly distributed to ISTJ, ISTP, ESTP and ESTJ in order among 16 types. According to preference tendency, it was found out that the introverted type was extroverted, the recognition type was intuition type, the thinking type was emotional type, and the recognition type was more distributed than the judgment type. The psychological functions were ST, SF, NF, NT. MBTI type analysis of medical students shows that it is possible to organize members in group activities to improve their ability to understand themselves and understand others in class scenes. In addition, we expect to be able to design for improvement of stress management, conflict management, and communication ability. In the career counseling scene, in addition to the MBTI data analysis, it is expected that it will be possible to recommend a major suitable for the student personality type in parallel with other psychological tests. In addition, we expect to study the preferred field of study, satisfaction with the major in the future research by continuous data accumulation and analysis.
Communication ; Counseling ; Education ; Education, Medical* ; Humans ; Intuition ; Judgment ; Personality Inventory ; Psychological Tests ; Statistics as Topic ; Students, Medical* ; Thinking ; Vocational Guidance

This study is to investigate the historical characteristics of medical education and healthcare environment in Korea and to suggest the desirable direction for future medical education. We draw a consensus through the literature analysis and several debates from the eight experts of medical education. There are several historical characteristics of medical education: medical education as vocational education and training, as a higher education, rapid growth of new medical schools, change to the medical education system, curriculum development, reinforcement of medical humanities, improvement of teaching and evaluation methods, validation of the national health personnel licensing examination, accreditation system for quality assurance, and establishment of specialized medical education division. The changes of health care environment in medical education are development of medical technologies, changes in the structures of the population and diseases, growth of information and communication technology, consumer-centered society, and increased intervention by the third party stakeholder. We propose five suggestions to be made to improve future medical education. They are plan for outcome and competency-based medical education, connection between the undergraduate and graduate medical education, reinforcement of continuous quality improvement of medical education, reorganization of the medical education system and construction of leadership of "academic medicine."
Accreditation ; Consensus ; Curriculum ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Education, Medical* ; Education, Medical, Graduate ; Health Personnel ; Humanities ; Humans ; Korea ; Leadership ; Licensure ; Quality Improvement ; Schools, Medical ; Vocational Education

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to analyze the current attitudes toward professionalism, the core values, and the type of professionalism among plastic surgeons in Korea to establish a code of ethics regarding the role of professionalism for plastic and reconstructive surgeons. METHODS: From March 9, to July 1, 2012, face-to-face and mail surveys were conducted targeting the 325 participants (256 specialists and 69 residents) who are registered members of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. The proportion of each response given to an item was obtained through statistical processing through frequency analysis. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the differences in the responses between the resident group and the specialist group. RESULTS: The survey results on the perception of professionalism in plastic surgery showed that a high proportion (90.5%) of the respondents viewed the future of plastic surgeons as bright. Through evaluation of the importance of the value items,"professional dominance" (4.58 pts), "autonomy" (4.45 pts), "lifestyle" (4.34 pts), and "commercialism" (4.31 pts) were assessed as critical values. "Altruism" (3.84 pts), "interpersonal competence" (3.79 pts), and "social justice" (3.61 pts) were viewed as lesser values. This difference showed the characteristics of an entrepreneurial outlook. CONCLUSIONS: Plastic surgeons should pursue excellence, humanism, accountability, and altruism in order to overcome the crisis of professionalism in plastic surgery. In order to develop the necessary competencies of professionals, vocational education should be arranged by the Korean Society of Plastic Surgeons, and an appropriate code of ethics should be established.
Altruism ; Codes of Ethics ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Humanism ; Humans ; Korea ; Postal Service ; Professional Role ; Social Responsibility ; Specialization ; Surgery, Plastic ; Vocational Education