Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
Health Law, Policy & Management, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA.
Nicotine Tob Res. 2020 May 26;22(6):1041-1045. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntz083.
To implement and evaluate a blended online and in-person training to help mentors of early-career researchers appreciate the complexities of Tobacco Regulatory Science (TRS), refine TRS mentoring skills, and become acquainted with resources for providing effective guidance to TRS mentees.
TRS mentors engaged in a two-part pilot test of the training program. Authors evaluated both the online and in-person training using retrospective pre-post evaluations, which measure learning at the conclusion of a training program, and post-program focus groups. Twenty learners completed the online training, and 16 learners attended the in-person training module. Nine participants completed evaluations for the online module, and 12 participants completed evaluations for the in-person module.
Program assessments revealed that participants found that the training achieved its overall goals. The majority of respondents (87.5%) rated the online portion of the training as valuable. For the in-person training, participants reported statistically significant improvements regarding confidence in: helping mentees to identify skills and training to effectively pursue TRS, assisting mentees in weighing career trajectories, and guiding mentees in conducting research responsive to TRS regulatory priorities.
The novel mentoring program was well received by faculty seeking to strengthen skills for mentoring early-career TRS researchers to navigate the complex landscape of TRS, explore diverse funding opportunities, and discern potential career trajectories. It provided unique content to address issues outside the traditional tobacco research training curriculum and offered specific information on regulatory policies, priorities, and opportunities.
This research documents the deployment and evaluation of a blended online and in-person training program for investigators mentoring early-career researchers working in TRS. Our assessment discovered that participants found the training to be valuable to their overall mentoring objectives. The training comprises a novel curriculum for investigators engaged in mentoring early-career researchers in a unique field, thus filling a deficit in the published literature by presenting a curriculum that has been customized to the unique needs of TRS mentors.
为了实施和评估一项混合式在线和面对面培训，以帮助早期职业研究人员的导师了解烟草监管科学（TRS）的复杂性，提高 TRS 指导技能，并熟悉为 TRS 学员提供有效指导的资源。
TRS 导师参与了培训计划的两部分试点测试。作者使用回顾性前后评估来评估在线和面对面培训，这些评估在培训计划结束时衡量学习情况，并在课后进行焦点小组讨论。20 名学习者完成了在线培训，16 名学习者参加了面对面培训模块。9 名参与者完成了在线模块的评估，12 名参与者完成了面对面模块的评估。
项目评估显示，参与者认为培训达到了总体目标。大多数受访者（87.5%）认为在线培训部分很有价值。对于面对面培训，参与者报告说，在以下方面的信心有了统计学上的显著提高：帮助学员确定技能和培训，以有效地从事 TRS；帮助学员权衡职业轨迹；指导学员进行响应 TRS 监管优先事项的研究。
这项新的指导计划受到了寻求加强指导早期 TRS 研究人员技能的教师的欢迎，这些技能可帮助他们在 TRS 复杂的环境中导航，探索多样化的资金机会，并识别潜在的职业轨迹。它提供了独特的内容来解决传统烟草研究培训课程之外的问题，并提供了有关监管政策、优先事项和机会的具体信息。
本研究记录了一项混合式在线和面对面培训计划的部署和评估，该计划针对的是从事 TRS 工作的早期职业研究人员的导师。我们的评估发现，参与者认为培训对他们的整体指导目标很有价值。该培训包含了一项针对从事早期职业研究人员指导的研究人员的新颖课程，通过提供针对 TRS 导师独特需求定制的课程，填补了发表文献中的空白。
