No / The aim of this study was to determine the number of OGDs (oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopies) trainees need to perform to acquire competency in terms of successful unassisted completion to the second part of the duodenum 95% of the time. Design: OGD data were retrieved from the trainee e-portfolio developed by the Joint Advisory Group on GI Endoscopy ( JAG) in the UK. All trainees were included unless they were known to have a baseline experience of >20 procedures or had submitted data for <20 procedures. The primary outcome measure was OGD completion, defined as passage of the endoscope to the second part of the duodenum without physical assistance. The number of OGDs required to achieve a 95% completion rate was calculated by the moving average method and learning curve cumulative summation (LC-Cusum) analysis. To determine which factors were independently associated with OGD completion, a mixed effects logistic regression model was constructed with OGD completion as the outcome variable. Results: Data were analysed for 1255 trainees over 288 centres, representing 243 555 OGDs. By moving average method, trainees attained a 95% completion rate at 187 procedures. By LC-Cusum analysis, after 200 procedures, >90% trainees had attained a 95% completion rate. Total number of OGDs performed, trainee age and experience in lower GI endoscopy were factors independently associated with OGD completion. Conclusions: There are limited published data on the OGD learning curve. This is the largest study to date analysing the learning curve for competency acquisition. The JAG competency requirement for 200 procedures appears appropriate

The aim of this research was to identify where the expectation gap of IT competencies lies, between accountancy trainees, SAICA and employers. Existing findings and empirical research findings from this study were compared to the prescribed competencies of the professional body, SAICA, to identify where the gap lies and to suggest possible action plans to overcome it. The findings of this study suggest that the availability of technology and IT at schools is limited. Employers identified an overall expectation gap where trainees are not able to apply the basic IT competencies that should have been acquired at university to the practical working environment. The data collected also identified that IT competencies are not being taught at the same level at different universities through the different responses of students, lecturers and trainees, which leads to inconsistent exposure of accountancy trainees to IT prior to their traineeship. As IT competencies have a significant impact on the every-day working life of such a trainee, employers and SAICA expect that students would have obtained basic IT competencies before the start of their traineeship. / MCom (Accountancy)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2015

The aim of this research was to identify where the expectation gap of IT competencies lies, between accountancy trainees, SAICA and employers. Existing findings and empirical research findings from this study were compared to the prescribed competencies of the professional body, SAICA, to identify where the gap lies and to suggest possible action plans to overcome it. The findings of this study suggest that the availability of technology and IT at schools is limited. Employers identified an overall expectation gap where trainees are not able to apply the basic IT competencies that should have been acquired at university to the practical working environment. The data collected also identified that IT competencies are not being taught at the same level at different universities through the different responses of students, lecturers and trainees, which leads to inconsistent exposure of accountancy trainees to IT prior to their traineeship. As IT competencies have a significant impact on the every-day working life of such a trainee, employers and SAICA expect that students would have obtained basic IT competencies before the start of their traineeship. / MCom (Accountancy)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2015

A major concern many counselor trainees face when preparing to see their first couple-client is that of confidence because they have had little to no experience in interacting in a professional capacity with couples. Many beginning counselors experience anxiety, which can inhibit their effectiveness with clients (Scanlon & Baille, 1994). Introducing counselor trainees to a relatively non-threatening interaction with couples might reduce the initial anxiety that characterizes the neophyte counselor venturing into new clinical territory. The interaction may also enhance feelings of warmth and closeness of the couples. John Gottman's Oral History Interview (Gottman, 1999) was the protocol used in the interaction between trainee and couple. An instrument developed for this study to measure couple counseling confidence, the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, 1983), and the Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships (Schaefer & Olson, 1981) were used to assess levels of counselor confidence, counselor anxiety, and couple intimacy, respectively. The confidence instrument and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were administered to 37 students who were enrolled in four graduate level introductory couple counseling classes and who interviewed couples, as well as to 34 counselor-trainees who were enrolled in five graduate level counseling courses other than couple counseling and who did not interview couples. Analyses of the quantitative data revealed no statistically significant differences in confidence between trainees who interviewed a couple and trainees who did not interview a couple. Analyses of qualitative data suggested there were differences. The Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships was administered to 67 individual couple participants who were interviewed by counselor trainees, and 35 individual couple participants who were not interviewed by counselor-trainees. Analyses of the quantitative data revealed no statistically significant differences in couples who participated in the Oral History Interview and those who did not. Analyses of qualitative data suggested there were differences. Regarding both counselor confidence and couple intimacy, future research using a larger sample size and more refined quantitative methods appears warranted.

This study investigated the extent to which formal training in developing effective case conceptualizations increased counselor competence among participants compared to those who were not exposed to the training. A total of 145 counselor trainees were recruited from three South Florida Universities. Participants in both the treatment group and comparison group received a brief lecture on case conceptualization, while those in the treatment group were trained to develop effective case conceptualizations using an integrative model. The brief lecture effectively reduced myths about case conceptualization for both the treatment and comparison group participants (p < 0.001). Oneway ANOVA results showed the effectiveness of the specific training (p < 0.001). The treatment group had a significantly higher mean score (M = 44.12; SD = 9.84) than the comparison group (M = 24.23; SD = 8.29). There was no significant difference in participants’ CCEF pre-test scores, therefore, they were treated as a non-treatment group and compared to the CCEF post-test scores of the comparison group and treatment group. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015 / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

This thesis concerns the use of repertory grids to examine personal and professional development (PPD) during professional training programmes. Paper one consists of a systematic review of 11 repertory grid studies of people undergoing training in human services professions. The findings suggest that professional socialisation occurred in line with the aims of training programmes but was an idiosyncratic, non-linear process which continued post-qualification. Trainees' thinking style became more abstract, less polarised and more cognitively complex. Implications for people training in human services professions and training providers are discussed and suggestions for improved future research are provided. Paper two reports a repertory grid study examining 26 third-year trainee clinical psychologists' construal of their PPD. The findings suggest that trainees' personal and professional selves were construed to be similar to each other. Trainees reported feeling anxious, stressed, unsettled and lacking an appropriate work-life balance. These difficulties were attributed to the demands of training and were expected to resolve once training was completed. Suggestions for future research with improved methodology are made and the implications of the findings for trainees, training providers and employers of newly qualified clinical psychologists are given. Paper three provides a critical reflection of the thesis; discussing the strengths and limitations of each of the papers and concluding with the author's personal reflections on the process of the research and her own PPD.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo descrever e analisar relatos de jovens aprendizes e estagiários sobre condições de trabalho, escola e saúde após ingresso no primeiro emprego. Foram utilizados diferentes instrumentos para a coleta de dados. Os dados qualitativos foram obtidos por meio de entrevistas individuais e coletivas com roteiro semi-estruturado. As análises desses dados foram realizadas a partir da metodologia de análise de conteúdo. Foi aplicado um questionário para a obtenção dos dados sócio-demográficos, condições de saúde, sono, hábitos e estilos de vida. Esses dados foram tabulados em planilhas ExcelTM. Participaram deste estudo quarenta jovens, aprendizes e estagiários, entre 14 e 20 anos, que trabalhavam há pelo menos seis meses, em diferentes setores e ramos de empresas, com jornada entre seis e oito horas diárias de trabalho. Todos os participantes estudavam no período noturno, curso técnico, ensino médio, ou faculdade e que, concomitantemente ao estudo e trabalho, frequentavam os programas de aprendizagem e estágio em uma Organização Não Governamental situada na zona Sul de São Paulo, capital. Os resultados desse estudo apontam o ingresso de adolescentes no trabalho cada vez mais cedo em busca de melhores condições financeiras para si e para família. Os jovens relataram passar por muitos desafios para conciliar as atividades pessoais, profissionais e acadêmicas. A extensa jornada diária de trabalho somada ao período de estudo noturno comprometeu, na maioria dos casos, o desempenho acadêmico e a saúde dos participantes. Os principais fatores prejudiciais à saúde relatados pelos jovens foram: falta de tempo para dormir, para se alimentar adequadamente, para praticar atividade física e a redução do tempo de lazer e convívio social com amigos e família. Os aprendizes e estagiários também mencionaram a falta de treinamento e o desconhecimento da legislação pertinente ao seu trabalho como fatores que contribuíram para as dificuldades apresentadas nos relatos sobre a realização de suas atividades laborais, na identificação de acidentes e doenças relacionadas com o trabalho / This study aimed to describe and analyze reports of young apprentices and trainees on employment conditions, health and school after entering the first job. Different instruments were employed for data collection. Qualitative data were collected through individual and collective interviews with a semi-structured interview. The data analyzes were performed using the content analysis methodology. A questionnaire was applied to obtain the socio-demographic data, health status, sleep habits and lifestyles. Data were tabulated in ExcelTM spreadsheets. The study included forty young people, apprentices and trainees, ranging from 14 to 20 years old, who worked for at least six months in different sectors and branches of companies, with journey between six and eight hours of work. All participants studied in the evening, technical course, high school or college and, simultaneously to study and work, attending learning programs and educational work in an NGO located in the south of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The results of this study showed that getting better financial conditions for themselves and their families were the major reasons for start working earlier. One of the major challenges faced by the participants was dealing with work concomitantly to personal and academic activities. Long daily working hours in addition to the period of study undertaken at night had, in most cases, a reflex, upon academic performance and health of the participants. The main factors detrimental to health reported were: lack of time for sleeping, eating properly, for physical activity and for recreation and socializing with friends and family. Apprentices and trainees also have mentioned the lack of training, and/or not knowing the legislation regarding to their work as the main factors related to the difficulties for doing their task properly, identification of illnesses and work-related accidents

Psychologists now use and interact with a mélange of technology for client care, including (but not limited to) email (Delsignore et al., 2016; Eysenbach, 2000), text messaging (Bradley & Hendricks, 2009; Elhai & Frueh, 2016), electronic medical records (Harrison & Palacio, 2006; Steinfeld & Keyes, 2011), telemental health/televideo (Richardson, Frueh, Grubaugh, Egede, & Elhai, 2012), and digital assessments (Jellins, 2015; Pearson Education Inc., 2015b). Amidst this technological revolution, threats to ethical obligations and regulations exist that might hinder effective client care (Elhai & Hall, 2016b; Lustgarten, 2015; Lustgarten & Colbow, 2017). Literature suggests that individuals, organizations, companies, and government actors have targeted individuals and nations for their data (Elhai & Hall, 2016b; Greenwald, 2014; Lustgarten, 2015). Despite concerns for protecting client information, little is known about the education and training opportunities present in APA-accredited clinical and/or counseling psychology doctoral programs around technology competence. Researchers have recommended trainees receive technology training for use within psychotherapy (Colbow, 2013; Lustgarten & Colbow, 2017; Mallen, Vogel, & Rochlen, 2005). This study interviewed 9 doctoral trainees about their experiences, decision making, thought processes, responsibilities for stakeholders, and additional needs from training programs, organizations, and practicum sites when using technology. Results suggested that participants had limited opportunities for education, but interacted with and were expected to use various forms of technology (e.g., email, text messaging, and electronic medical records). Additionally, participants tended to request increased organizational involvement on this topic in the form of formal conversations, workshops, and continuing education. More research is recommended to highlight disparities between expectations and education within doctoral training programs.

Counseling psychology doctoral trainees’ satisfaction with their clinical methods training is an important predictor of their self-efficacy as counselors, persistence in graduate programs, and probability of practicing psychotherapy in their careers (Fernando &Hulse-Killacky, 2005; Hadjipavlou &Ogrodniczuk, 2007; Morton &;Worthley, 1995). Much of the extant literature related to assessing psychology graduate students’ satisfaction with their training has focused on supervision processes and has not adequately assessed other elements of training such as coursework, clinical experiences, and the learning contexts of practicum sites and program settings. Additionally, the available research is largely quantitative data based on geographically restricted samples that does not adequately explain reasons for trainees’ satisfaction or dissatisfaction. The purpose of the present study was to broadly identify factors that contribute to counseling psychology doctoral students’ satisfaction with their clinical methods training in coursework, clinical experiences, supervision, and practicum and program contexts. Eight advanced doctoral trainees from APA-accredited programs in counseling psychology were interviewed about their satisfaction with their training experiences. Data was analyzed using Consensual Qualitative Research (Hill, 2012). Results indicated that trainees generally entered programs with broad/unclear expectations, but some identified preferences for practicum settings, developing clinical skills, learning approaches to psychotherapy, and training in multicultural competence. Participants expressed higher satisfaction with courses that included multicultural content, training in theoretical approaches to therapy, and clinically-applicable content using teaching methods that included combining lecture with dialogue and experiential exercises. Diversity in clients’ demographics, presenting concerns, therapeutic modalities, and distress levels contributed to higher satisfaction with clinical experiences. Additionally, participants expressed their value for the opportunity to accrue client contact towards internship requirements. Strong supervisory relationships were most frequently identified as contributing to participants’ satisfaction with supervision. Participants expressed highest satisfaction with supervisors who conveyed care and support; were respectful, invested, competent, and experienced; provided new learning and feedback; and demonstrated multicultural competence. Practicum sites which provided an appropriate balance of training and clinical work, met trainees’ expectations for developmentally-appropriate training and clinical experiences, and fostered positive relationships between trainees and competent, invested staff members were described to produce highest satisfaction. Participants also expressed highest satisfaction when they had open, safe interpersonal relationships with faculty and felt secure in their ability to secure practicum placements in a range of settings. All participants stated they would feel more satisfied with their programs if more courses were available, but opinions varied as to the type of additional training desired. Findings are considered from the perspective of experiential learning theory (Kolb, 1984) and situated learning theory (Lave &Wenger, 1991). Implications for program faculty, practicum staff, and future research are discussed.

Perfectionism in the counselor trainee has the potential to undermine counseling self-efficacy and relationships with client and supervisor (Arkowitz, 1990). Perfectionism is defined as “a predilection for setting extremely high standards and being displeased with anything less” (Webster’s II New College Dictionary, 1995, p. 816). In this study, 143 counselor trainees and 46 supervisors (46 supervisor-trainee dyads) completed surveys designed to assess the relationships between adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism and counseling self-efficacy, the working alliance between supervisor and trainee, as well as the working alliance between trainee and client. Trainee participants completed the Almost Perfect Scale – Revised (Slaney, Rice, Mobley, Trippi, & Ashby, 2001), the Self-Efficacy Inventory (Friedlander & Snyder, 1983), the Supervisory Working Alliance Inventory – Trainee Version (Efstation, Patton & Kardash, 1990) and the Working Alliance Inventory – Short Form Therapist Version (Horvath, 1991). Supervisor participants completed the Supervisory Working Alliance Inventory – Supervisor Version (Efstation, Patton & Kardash, 1990). Results indicated that maladaptive perfectionism was positively correlated with working alliance between trainee and client (r = -.261, p = .002) and positively correlated with the working alliance between supervisor and trainee (from the perspective of the supervisor, r = -.345, p = .019). Results also demonstrated evidence for counseling self-efficacy as a significant moderator between adaptive perfectionism and the supervisory working alliance (from the perspective of the trainee) and between maladaptive perfectionism and the supervisory working alliance (from the perspective of the supervisor). Supervisors should consider perfectionism in counselor trainees as this may affect counseling self-efficacy and working alliances between supervisor and trainee as well as between trainee and client.