Mapping student engagement in health professions education policy and decision-making: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

"Student engagement" (SE) is gaining momentum as an approach to improve the performance of health professions education (HPE). Nevertheless, despite the broad studies about the role of students in various areas, little is known about the role of SE in policy and decision-making activities. This study aimed to map SE in policy and decision-making regarding terms and definitions, engagement models, influencing factors, outcomes and achievements, and the interconnection between the influencing factors.

METHOD

Five databases (PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, and ERIC) were systematically searched from Jan 1, 1990, to Nov 12, 2022. The review was followed according to the Arksey and O'Malley framework for scoping reviews and reported according to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. We included articles published in English focusing on HPE policy and decision-making. The authors summarized and synthesized the findings into themes, subthemes, tables, and models.

RESULTS

Of the 22 articles included in the full-text review, terms and definitions were tabled, and three themes were extracted: 1. models of SE, in which 10 studies (45.5%) presented the highly structured formal models as Organizations, 5 studies (22.7%) reported less-structured community and group as Programs, and 7 studies (31.8%) engaged students only in surveys or interviews as Perspective; 2. Factors influencing SE, that were categorized into 7 subthemes: structural, environmental, and motivational factors, member characteristics, training and mentoring, member relationships, valuing and recognizing. 3. Outcomes and achievements of SE related to systems and members. The interconnection between influencing factors is also demonstrated as a conceptual model.

DISCUSSION

There are various SE models in HPE policy and decision-making, which are mapped and categorized depending on the degree of formality, structuredness, and level of engagement. In our study, three more common SE models in HPE policy and decision-making were investigated. Additionally, these collaborative methods emphasized curriculum development and quality assurance and employed students in these activities. It is worth mentioning that to make SE models more efficient and sustainable, several influencing factors and their interconnections should be considered.

Effect of Different Hormonal Treatment on Stevia (<I>rebaudiana </I>Bertoni) Micro-propagation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Stevia micro propagation method is an extensive and highly potential in vitro method use to accelerate plant propagation in compare to the other propagation methods. This study tried to examine the effect of different hormonal combinations for shoot and root development of stevia plant.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In order to identify the best hormonal combination of establishment culture, three different media (MS1, MS2 and MS3) combine with three separate hormonal combinations for each were tested. For the proliferation and rooting culture, a media (MS2) combined with different hormonal combinations with different levels were tested. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design with eight replicates in establishment experiment and factorial in base of completely randomized design with four replicates in proliferation and rooting experiment. Data was analyzed by one-way analysis of variance using SAS.

RESULTS

The mean comparison data showed the lowest amount of kinetin and IBA added in selected medium from establishment phase (MS2) was more effective in proliferation traits. The highest number of lateral branches was observed in the IBA 0.25 mg L-1 (3.96) and kinetin 1 mg L-1 (3.91). The mean comparison of naphthalene acetic acid and IBA treatments in rooting study confirmed that the control treatment (no added NAA and IBA) had the maximum effect on the traits studied. The longest root length (1.68 cm) was observed in the control treatment culture.

CONCLUSION

The Stevia (rebaudiana Bertoni) in vitro culture under effect of hormonal treatments showed a significant improvement on proliferation and rooting rate.