Carina Roemer, Sharyn Rundle-Thiele, Bo Pang, Patricia David, Jeawon Kim, James Durl, Timo Dietrich and Julia Carins
Females are underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), both in the workforce and in universities. Low self-efficacy and limited access to role…
Abstract
Purpose
Females are underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), both in the workforce and in universities. Low self-efficacy and limited access to role models are key factors preventing retention of female STEM students enrolled in university degrees. This paper aims to report on one social marketing pilot programme that was co-designed to increase self-efficacy in females currently enrolled in STEM programmes.
Design/methodology/approach
The Co-create, Build and Engage (C-B-E) framework was applied. Process and outcome evaluations were conducted using a repeated measure design to assess pilot programme effectiveness.
Findings
A significant increase in self-efficacy and high satisfaction rates were observed for STEM students that attended the bias literacy workshop. Social advertisements raised awareness for available STEM specific university services.
Originality/value
This paper outlines the application of the C-B-E framework. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study delivers the first scientific paper reporting an outcome evaluation for a social marketing programme seeking to retain women enrolled in university STEM degrees.
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Keywords
COVID-19 is bringing hardship and tragedy. Health workers are having to take appalling risks; loved ones are being lost; lockdown is causing great distress. And, as always in…
Abstract
COVID-19 is bringing hardship and tragedy. Health workers are having to take appalling risks; loved ones are being lost; lockdown is causing great distress. And, as always in testing times, the disadvantaged are being hit worst. As we emerge from the shadows, the call from the vested interests, from the systems current winners, will be for a rapid return to business as usual. We must resist this; business as usual got us into this mess.
COVID-19 is trying to tell us something; we health educators and social marketers must listen, think and, above all, take action.
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Visa Väisänen, Addiena Luke-Currier, Laura Hietapakka, Marko Elovainio and Timo Sinervo
This study aims to examine the associations of collaboration measured as social network characteristics with perceived job demands, job control and social support in primary…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the associations of collaboration measured as social network characteristics with perceived job demands, job control and social support in primary healthcare professionals.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional study design incorporating social network analysis was utilized. Wellbeing surveys with a network questionnaire were sent to care personnel (physicians, nurses and allied health workers) of Finnish primary healthcare in December 2022 (n = 96). Correlation coefficients and multivariate linear regression modeling were used to analyze the associations.
Findings
Higher level of collaboration (measured as number of connections in the network) was associated with lower perceived job demands and higher job control. Care professionals’ frequency of collaboration and proportion of connections with the same occupation (homophily) were borderline associated with social support, indicating further research needs. Larger professional networks, perhaps enabling better teamwork and sharing of workload or information, may directly or indirectly protect from job strain.
Practical implications
Work-related collaboration in primary care should be encouraged and large support networks need to be promoted further. Individuals, especially allied health workers, working in multiple locations or as a sole member of their occupation group in the work community need to be provided with adequate social support.
Originality/value
Social network analysis has been proposed as a tool to investigate care integration and collaboration, but direct analyses of network measures and validated wellbeing instruments have remained absent. This study illuminated the role of collaboration structures in work-related wellbeing of care professionals by showcasing the potential of social network analysis.