41 research outputs found
Digital skills use profiles among older workers in the United States: a person-centered approach
No full textConsidering the digitalisation of the workplace and increasingly crucial digital skill proficiency in the technology-rich labour market, the objectives of the present study are to develop digital skill use profiles and to identify specific individual characteristics that are linked with digital skill use patterns among older workers in the United States. However, relatively little is known about older workers’ digital skill use patterns and skill use opportunity structures. Data of the U.S. older workers (age 50 years and older; n = 1,670) were obtained from the 2012/2014/2017 International Assessment of the Adult Competencies (PIAAC). Latent class analysis – a form of person-centred approach that identifies subgroups based on distinctive digital skill use patterns, showed that there were two underlying subgroups of older workers, including more frequent and less frequent digital skill users. More frequent users practiced a greater variety of digital skills both at work and outside of work than their counterparts. Also, logistic regression analysis showed that higher digital skill proficiency and full-time employment (vs. part-time) were associated with belonging to the more frequent digital skill use subgroup. The digital skill use profiles of U.S. older workers, subgroup characteristics, and implications for adult education and labour policies are evaluated.In this research, Takashi Yamashita, Donnette Narine, Phyllis A. Cummins, Runcie C. W. Chidebe, Jenna W. Kramerand Rita Karam were partially supported by the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education,through Grant [R305A200261] to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. The opinions expressed are those ofthe authors and do not represent the views of the institute or the U.S. Department of Education. This study wasreviewed and approved by the Institute of Education Sciences Data Security team for the Program for theInternational Assessment of Adult Competencies U.S. restricted use file data (licence #17080026). Institute ofEducation Sciences [R305A200261].https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02601370.2024.244349
Associations between education, information-processing skills, and job automation risk in the United States
No full textJob automation is a topical issue in a technology-driven labor market. However, greater amounts of human capital (e.g., often measured by education, and information-processing skills, including adult literacy) are linked with job security. A knowledgeable and skilled labor force better resists unemployment and/or rebounds from job disruption brought on by job automation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to advance understanding of the association between educational attainment and literacy, and job automation risk. Using the 2012/2014/2017 Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) data, survey-weighted linear regression was used to model the risk of job automation as a function of education, and literacy proficiency. Higher educational attainment (college or higher vs. less than high school: b = −18.23, p < .05) and greater literacy proficiency (score 0–500 points: b = −.038, p < .05) were associated with a decrease in job automation risk among the U.S. workforce.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Institute of Education Sciences (R305A200261).https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1477971423121300
Adult Literacy Skills and Risk of Job Automation Among Middle-Aged and Older Workers in the United States
No full textJob automation can undermine economic security for workers in general, and older workers, in particular. In this respect, consistently updating one’s knowledge and skills is essential for being competitive in a technology-driven labor market. Older workers with lower adult literacy skills experience difficulties with continuous education and skills development, which can contribute to their economic uncertainty. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the correlation between adult literacy skills and job automation risk. We analyzed a nationally representative sample of middle-aged and older workers (age 50+ years; n = 1,880) from the 2012/2014/2017 Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) dataset. The survey-weighted linear regression results showed that lower job automation risks (0%–100%) were a function of higher adult literacy skills (score 0–500 points: b = −.052, p < .05), after adjusting for relevant covariates (R-squared = .19).https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1939422524130215
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Black voices in cancer research and oncology
No full textOver the past few years, there has been an increasing realization that we need a more equal, diverse and inclusive culture for truly successful cancer research to happen. Moreover, that research itself must be relevant to and engage a diverse patient population to achieve effective cancer care. Now is the time for action, so how do we attract and retain more diverse researchers to the cancer community, and how do we begin to close the gap in cancer disparities. We asked five Black cancer researchers and clinicians to present their ideas for bringing about positive change.
In this Viewpoint article, we asked five Black cancer researchers and clinicians to present their ideas on how we can attract and retain more diverse researchers to the cancer community and how we begin to close the gap in cancer disparities
Producing Graduates That Industry Needs: Exploring the Views of Employers, Administrators, Faculty, and Students on Foundational Skills at Community College STEM Programs
No full textThis qualitative study explored the views of community college employers, faculty, administrators, and students on the importance of foundational skills, including literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills, in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs of study. Participants (N = 50) were recruited, semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Four themes were identified: 1) foundational skills are as important as the course of study; 2) the ability to communicate technical skills is crucial; 3) leadership and supervisory skills are valuable; and 4) employers contribute to the curriculum, producing graduates that industry needs. Our findings provide policy and practice recommendations, including the need to design curricula with strong components of literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills, integrating supervisory and leadership skills in classroom exercises, and engagement of employers in curriculum development and instruction. Producing graduates in STEM fields with skills that employers require is important for employee advancement and for future economic growth.The research reported here was supported by the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, through Grant R305A200261 the University of Maryland Baltimore County, the RAND Corporation, and Miami University. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent views of the Institute or the U.S. Department of Education.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10668926.2024.242617
Digital Skills, STEM Occupation, and Job Automation Risks among the Older Workers in the United States
No full textAdvancing automation technologies are replacing certain occupations such as those involving simple food preparation more than occupations such as those in STEM fields (e.g., engineering, health care). Older workers generally face higher job automation risks in part due to their lower levels of digital skills. A better understanding of the associations between job automation risk, digital skills, and type of occupation (e.g., STEM vs. non-STEM) can facilitate preparations for job automation and workforce population aging. We analyzed a nationally representative sample (N = 1,560) of middle-aged and older U.S. workers aged 50–74 years from the 2012/2014/2017 Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) restricted-use file. The estimated job automation risks (i.e., percentage of jobs to be automated in the next decades) were derived from the previous studies. PIAAC digital problem-solving skills proficiency (measured on a scale of 0-500 points) was assessed based on a series of practical digital tasks (e.g., finding a job research website that does not require registration). Linear regression analysis showed that greater digital skill proficiency (b = −0.04, p < .05) and STEM occupations (b = −17.78, p < .001) each were associated with lower job automation risks, even after adjusting for a series of demographic, socioeconomic, and civic engagement characteristics. Education and labor policy interventions to promote digital skills among older workers and non-STEM workers may better prepare an aging workforce for the dynamic labor market needs in the United States.This research was supported in part by the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education Grant R305A200261 provided to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent the views of the Institute or the U.S. Department of Education.https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/geront/gnae069/7687881?redirectedFrom=fulltex
Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes-Palliative Care in Africa Program: Improving Access to Quality Palliative Care
No full textPURPOSE: There is limited access to quality palliative care (PC) for patients with advanced cancer in sub-Saharan Africa. Our aim was to describe the development of the Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes-Palliative Care in Africa (ECHO-PACA) program and describe a preliminary evaluation of attitudes and knowledge of participants regarding the ability of the program to deliver quality PC.
METHODS: An interdisciplinary team at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, guided by experts in PC in sub-Saharan Africa, adapted a standardized curriculum based on PC needs in the region. Participants were then recruited, and monthly telementoring sessions were held for 16 months. The monthly telementoring sessions consisted of case presentations, discussions, and didactic lectures. Program participants came from 14 clinics and teaching hospitals in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia. Participants were surveyed at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the 16-month program to evaluate changes in attitudes and knowledge of PC.
RESULTS: The median number of participants per session was 30. Thirty-three (83%) of 40 initial participants completed the feedback survey. Health care providers\u27 self-reported confidence in providing PC increased with participation in the Project ECHO-PACA clinic. There was significant improvement in the participants\u27 attitudes and knowledge, especially in titrating opioids for pain control (
CONCLUSION: Project ECHO-PACA was a successful approach for disseminating knowledge about PC. The participants were adherent to ECHO PACA clinics and the completion of feedback surveys. Future studies should evaluate the impact of Project ECHO-PACA on changes in provider practice as well as patient outcomes
Advancing access and equity: the vision of a new generation in cancer control
No full textWe must dramatically alter the current trajectory of cancer care to ensure that improvements are accessible by all in the global community. We must bridge the gap between what is achievable and what is accessible. We must act with urgency and precision, recognising the tremendous social and economic costs of inaction. The first priority should be to reframe cancer care. Second, we need to identify different measures of cancer outcomes. Third, we need to challenge extant priorities
CONSORT 2025 statement: updated guideline for reporting randomised trials
No full textWell designed and properly executed randomised trials are considered the most reliable evidence on the benefits of healthcare interventions. However, there is overwhelming evidence that the quality of reporting is not optimal. The CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) statement was designed to improve the quality of reporting and provides a minimum set of items to be included in a report of a randomised trial. CONSORT was first published in 1996, then updated in 2001 and 2010. Here, we present the updated CONSORT 2025 statement, which aims to account for recent methodological advancements and feedback from end users. We conducted a scoping review of the literature and developed a project-specific database of empirical and theoretical evidence related to CONSORT, to generate a list of potential changes to the checklist. The list was enriched with recommendations provided by the lead authors of existing CONSORT extensions (Harms, Outcomes, Non-pharmacological Treatment), other related reporting guidelines (TIDieR) and recommendations from other sources (eg, personal communications). The list of potential changes to the checklist was assessed in a large, international, online, three-round Delphi survey involving 317 participants and discussed at a two-day online expert consensus meeting of 30 invited international experts. We have made substantive changes to the CONSORT checklist. We added seven new checklist items, revised three items, deleted one item, and integrated several items from key CONSORT extensions. We also restructured the CONSORT checklist, with a new section on open science. The CONSORT 2025 statement consists of a 30-item checklist of essential items that should be included when reporting the results of a randomised trial and a diagram for documenting the flow of participants through the trial. To facilitate implementation of CONSORT 2025, we have also developed an expanded version of the CONSORT 2025 checklist, with bullet points eliciting critical elements of each item. Authors, editors, reviewers, and other potential users should use CONSORT 2025 when writing and evaluating manuscripts of randomised trials to ensure that trial reports are clear and transparent.</p
