Internal branding (IB) evolved from marketing to engage employees in a company's strategic planning. IB has been studied extensively in the hospitality industry, but not with human resource (HR) departments. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to assess the effectiveness of corporate training designs in instilling IB corporate values in global employees of a multinational hotel chain to determine whether European core values could be transferred across different cultural backgrounds. Structured interviews on IB were conducted with 22 HR practitioners of a luxury hotel chain to capture essential information through the lived experiences of the participants, all of whom were involved in how the design of such training programs can instill corporate core values in employees across national cultures. Transcribed interview responses were analyzed using the simplified Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen method to generate textual and structured descriptions to capture IB from their perspectives. The analysis revealed (a) that the HR employees were sensitive to certain core values that did not readily translate to overall brand and employee loyalty, as well as good company-employee working relationships, and (b) the importance of designing effective yet standardized training materials that addressed cultural differences or could be adapted as needed. These findings can help to promote more effective global brand recognition and provide HR specialists with knowledge to educate trainers about better techniques to deliver training across different cultures and engage employees on core values. Employees will be happier performing their roles, have increased job satisfaction, and demonstrate improved levels of productivity.

Context: Scapular motion evaluation is a necessary component of the upper extremity exam. Several methods exist, but most lack good reliability or diagnostic accuracy. The yes/no scapular dyskinesis test has the best of both measures but is untested on inexperienced clinicians. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and diagnostic accuracy of the yes/no scapular dyskinesis test when used by graduate assistant athletic trainers. Participants: The participants were college-aged students with no prior history of upper extremity fracture or nerve injury. Data Collection and Results: Participants were evaluated for scapular dyskinesis by a physician and 10 graduate assistant athletic trainers. Ratings were for normal or dyskinetic and then determination of side. Reliability was calculated using Gwet’s AC1 statistic and diagnostic accuracy from standard 2x2 contingency tables. Results: Reliability was moderate (AC1 = 0.48, p < 0.0025, 95% CI [0.147, 0.812]) when side was not accounted for and moderate (AC1 = 0.43, p < 0.0001, 95% CI [0.242, 0.632]) when side-per-side decisions were made. Sensitivity and negative predictive values were low to moderate (34.4%-66.2%, 8.9%-74.1% ). Specificity and positive predictive values were moderate to high (50%-85.2%, 51.5%-95.2%). Accuracy was moderate (65.2%-69.4%) and positive and negative likelihood ratios were low (1.325-2.333, 0.675-0.769). Conclusions: The reliability in this study was on par with previously published studies. Measures of diagnostic accuracy met or exceeded previous results. Clinically, to avoid false negative results and enhance the use of positive results, it appears necessary to combine methods and begin the evaluation with a gross assessment of whether or not dyskinesis is present and if it is to then evaluate which side is dyskinetic.

The status of athletic department ATOD policies has received limited attention. Few studies have examined the extent to which athletic trainers are currently involved in developing and revising their drug education and prevention policies. This study compared the perceptions of head athletic trainers from NCAA member Divisions I, II and III toward the status of their current ATOD policies and what they would ideally like to see in their athletic departments. Policy issues were related to each of the following four domains, 1) policy implementation; 2) educational programs; 3) ATOD policy enforcement; 4) athletic trainer participation in developing and evaluating ATOD policies. A web-based questionnaire was designed to collect data. Responses were collected from (353) head athletic trainers at three NCAA member institutions. Conveying ATOD policies to visiting student athletes related to the use of drugs banned by the NCAA during recruitment visits was the highest priority among HATS in three NCAA divisions. Athletic trainers from all divisions wanted to see ATOD education programs scheduled closer to athletic events when the potential for drug use could increase. Drug enforcement policies related to the consequences of testing positive for using a banned drug after a second or a third time by athletes was a high priority for Division I and III HATS. Division II trainers reported that mandatory drug testing was also a high priority. More Division I NCAA member institutions had evaluated their ATOD policies during the past year compared to Division I and III members. Participation in developing and revising athletic department and team ATOD policies was an important priority for head athletic trainers. HATS who were more involved in developing ATOD policies mentioned that they gained a better understanding of drug abuse and drug testing issues when they were part of their athletic departments' policy making process. / Graduation date: 2004

INTRODUCTION: Improving maternal and child health care are two of the Millennium Development Goals of the World Health Organization. India is one of the countries worldwide most burdened by maternal and child deaths. The aim of the study was to describe how families participate in nurse-based antenatal and child health care, and the effect of this in relation to referrals to specialist care, institutional deliveries and mortality. METHODS: The intervention took place in a remote rural area in India and was influenced by Swedish nurse-based health care. A baseline survey was performed before the intervention commenced. The intervention included education program for staff members with a model called Training of Trainers and the establishment of clinics as both primary health centers and mobile clinics. Health records and manuals, and informational and educational materials were produced and the clinics were equipped with easily handled instruments. The study period was between 2006 and 2009. Data were collected from antenatal care and child healthcare records. The Chi-square test was used to analyze mortality differences between years. A focus group discussion and a content analysis were performed. RESULTS: Families' participation increased which led to more check-ups of pregnant women and small children. Antenatal visits before 16 weeks among pregnant women increased from 32 to 62% during the period. Women having at least three check-ups during pregnancy increased from 30 to 60%. Maternal mortality decreased from 478 to 121 per 100 000 live births. The total numbers of children examined in the project increased from approximately 6000 to 18 500 children. Infant mortality decreased from 80 to 43 per 1000 live births. Women and children referred to specialist care increased considerably and institutional deliveries increased from 47 to 74%. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that it is possible in a rural and remote area to influence peoples' awareness of the value of preventive health care. The results also indicate that this might decrease maternal and child mortality. The education led to a more patient-friendly encounter between health professionals and patients. / <p>Article No. 2140</p><p>Funding Agencies|Pravara Medical Trust, India||Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sweden||Linkoping University||County Council in Ostergotland, Sweden||</p>

Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of Central Florida, 2009. / Advisers: David Boote, Debbie Hahs-Vaughn. Includes bibliographical references (p. 147-153).

The horse has been an integral and ubiquitous element in the development of human civilization for centuries. However, in the last 150 years, its presence in and relevance to peoples’ daily routines has waned. What previous cultures used to comprehend and appreciate, modern technology-based routines have rendered nearly obsolete. Consequently, the perception of their legacy has been diminished, their nature misunderstood, and their virtues devalued. However, their immediate presence still affects humans on a visceral level. Through a combination of three multimedia pieces and a written essay, I attempt to reveal various ways in which horses provide man with more than a means of transportation. By examining officers in Austin Police Department’s Mounted Division, an experienced horse trainer, and a licensed therapist who employs horses in her practice, I hope to dispel various misconceptions and reveal the rewards of shared company, beyond the utilitarian functions. Ideally, both parties stand to benefit from a proactive effort on behalf of the viewer to explore and better understand the connective tissue that still binds our two species. / text

Στην παρούσα έρευνα καταγράφονται οι απόψεις επιμορφωτών του Περιφερειακού Επιμορφωτικού Κέντρου Πάτρας, σχετικά με θέματα που αφορούν το ρόλο τους καθώς και με την έννοια της αποτελεσματικότητας. Διερευνώνται οι απόψεις τους για τον επιμορφωτικό ρόλο, τα προβλήματα που συνδέονται με αυτόν, ο προσανατολισμός της δράσης τους, τα προβλήματα που αφορούν τους επιμορφωνόμενους ως νεοδιόριστους εκπαιδευτικούς, η ανταπόκριση των Περιφερειακών Επιμορφωτικών Κέντρων στα λειτουργικά προαπαιτούμενα της εκπαίδευσης και στις ανάγκες των εκπαιδευτικών. Παράλληλα επιχειρείται η διερεύνηση των απόψεων των επιμορφωτών για την αποτελεσματική επιμόρφωση, τον αποτελεσματικό εκπαιδευτικό και το αποτελεσματικό σχολείο. Διαπιστώνεται ο θεσμικός προσανατολισμός της δράσης και των απόψεών τους ως προς τους άξονες της έρευνας. / The present survey registers the opinions of Peripheral Training Centres trainers, with respect to subjects relating to the training role, as well as to the concept of effectiveness. The trainers’ opinions about the training role are researched, as well as about relevant problems. Furthermore, the orientation of their action is researched. The trainers state their opinions about the problems concerning new teachers. Likewise, they convey their views on the response of Peripheral Training Centres to the functional prerequisites of education and to the needs of teachers. Correspondingly, a research of trainers’ opinions is undertaken with reference to effective training, effective teacher and effective school. An institutional orientation of their action is ascertained, as well as of their opinions, with regard to the hubs of the survey.

Relations with pupils are very important sphere of trainer’s activity. Efficiency of trainer’s and athletes’ interaction depends on that, what expectations pupils relate with their trainer and how the trainer realizes those expectations himself. Analysis of the trainer’s personality and viewpoint of athletes towards it should help in looking for more efficient relation of a trainer with his athletes. After all, knowing the viewpoint of his athletes the trainer will be able to draw certain conclusions about mutual relationship and to improve quality of his work. The key objective of the research is to analyse viewpoint of various performance aerobics and body-building athletes and trainers’ towards sport educator’s personality and peculiarities of intercommunication. There were 90 respondents participating in the research aged from 18 to 52. The task group consisted of 34 aerobics athletes and 10 aerobics trainers; 32 body-building athletes and 14 body-building trainers. After completion of the research it is possible to draw conclusions that high peak performance aerobics representatives evaluated trainer’s creativity and friendliness higher and low peak performance athletes – his communicability, erudition, ability to communicate, energy, dutifulness, friendliness, sense of humour, workability, sincerity, physical fitness, correct posture. High peak performance body-building athletes evaluated trainer’s erudition higher, there was no statistically significant difference... [to full text]

The purpose of this study was to assess Head Athletic Trainers (ATC) of NCAA Division I collegiate institutions perceived adequacy of professional preparation in implementing injury-related sport psychology skills and strategies. A survey instrument was developed and sent to all Head ATCs at NCAA Division IA institutions. Descriptive statistics were computed for information regarding educational background,. years of experience, number of varsity sports served, sport psychology backgrounds, specific sport psychology management strategies used and related perceived competence. Also, independent t-tests were conducted to examine differences in responses between professional preparation/backgrounds of the respondents and their perceived adequacy of preparation when utilizing sport psychology management strategies. Results indicate that 48% of NCAA Division IA Head ATCs have completed a formal course in sport psychology, and that perceived confidence when utilizing sport psychology skills and strategies are higher for this group. Better understanding of the role sport psychology plays in injury rehabilitation will allow ATCs to enhance their athletes' physical recovery from injury. / School of Physical Education

There are many choices of specialists to be utilized in a sport medicine support staff. The effectiveness of any athletic training program depends on the organization and utilization of these specialists. The purpose of this investigation was to review current practices of accessibility, utilization, and compensation of sports medicine support staff at NCAA Division I, II, and III institutions. A random sample of 225 NCAA institutions equally stratified by level (Division I, II, 111) was obtained from the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) directory. A questionnaire was sent to 75 head athletic trainers in each of three NCAA divisions levels. Of the 225 questionnaires mailed, 178 were returned representing a 79% response rate.The accessibility and utilization of support staff was equally distributed with respect to gender and sports at all division levels. When examining the support staff, Division I had consistently higher accessibility and utilization rates than Division II and Ill. This study may assist athletic trainers to evaluate or update their program by reviewing current practices of accessibility utilization, and compensation of support staff. / School of Physical Education