Alberta College

Background: Risk and protective factors influencing the performance of health professionals are of significant interest to regulators and the public. We aimed to develop a predictive model to identify factors influencing optometrist performance, providing insights for improving regulatory oversight and supporting targeted interventions.Methods: In our retrospective cohort study, we analyzed data from optometrists registered between 1987 and 2019 in the Alberta College of Optometrists Continuing Competence (CC) program to develop a predictive model for CC practice review outcome. We evaluated reviews using self-assessments, onsite visits, and clinical evaluations, with pass or fail status as the primary outcome. Key covariates included sex, age, training location, and previous review scores. We used a generalized additive model with a logit link and assessed its performance using five-fold cross-validation. Sensitivity and specificity were assessed with a holdout testing set.Results: We analyzed 2,075 CC reviews of 916 optometrists. Of these reviews, 75.6% received a passing grade. Practitioners were primarily male (51.7%, 48.3% female) and trained in the United States (49.8%) or Canada (46.2%). Significant predictors of review outcome were sex, training location, previous review score, follow-up score, age (included as a nonlinear effect varying by sex), and years since last review. In developing a selection tool for future assessments, we replaced age with years since graduation and removed training location. Among the 388 practitioners selected for assessment since 2021, practitioners flagged as high risk had significantly higher failure rates (16.1%) compared with practitioners selected randomly (3.0%).Discussion: Male sex, years since graduation, and poor outcomes on previous reviews emerged as significant predictors of failing an assessment. The developed selection tool effectively identified high-risk practitioners for reassessment, supporting fair and efficient resource allocation in the CC program.Conclusions: Key factors influencing CC review outcomes were identified and a selection tool was developed to ensure fairness across subgroups defined by age and sex.

Abstract Research purpose. There is a growing trend of society believing more and more in public broadcasting and media because they can objectively explain and reflect on what is happening in the world and Latvia. As the pandemic escalates, people are increasingly listening to what professional journalists and experts are saying. The survey organised by the National Media Council (neplpadome.lv, 2021) also shows that trust in public media in Latvia has been growing. However, one important challenge now is handling misinformation and false news, mostly seen on the Internet and social media. To be able to trace and analyse misinformation and false news that might have a significant impact on the population, first, it is important to identify the traditional and digital media as well as other Internet sources that have been frequently used by the population. The purpose of this study is to identify media platforms, including regional media, that are in daily use by the Vidzeme region’s population. Design / Methodology / Approach. A quantitative research method was used in this study, specifically, a survey, which consisted of a questionnaire comprising 18 questions on media use. Overall, 333 respondents living in the Vidzeme region participated in the survey. The questionnaire was designed in collaboration with Alberta College communication students. It included questions on traditional (TV, radio, magazines, newspaper) and digital media (portals, social media) that the population uses to access daily and weekly news. Findings. 1) The most frequently used media are social media (87.5%), while the Internet (85.5%) is considered the most reliable source of information. 2) Regional media continue to be an essential source of information for local communities. Originality / Value / Practical implications. Communication specialists of regional municipalities can use the results of the study to strengthen communication with the population via municipality websites and newspapers, thus, contributing to regional, local, and fast-growing micro-media ecosystem understanding. One limitation of the study is the limited scope of research, which is why the authors are planning to expand the research into the study of other regions of Latvia.

This study seeks to investigate competitiveness of foreign manufacturing companies in the Chinese market, developing full list of competitiveness impedimental factors of foreign manufacturing companies in the Chinese market, exploring the most significant competitiveness impedimental factors of Latvian manufacturing companies in the Chinese market and developing the conceptual model for reduction of competitiveness impedimental factors of Latvian manufacturing companies in the Chinese market. The main research methods employed in this study are literature review, expert method and surveys. The conceptual model for competitiveness improvement of manufacturing companies in the foreign market developed in the study shows that it is possible to improve companies' competitiveness in the foreign market by reducing impact of competitiveness impedimental factors for operation in the foreign market that leads to increased profit, turnover and export volume. The results of this study show that the most significant competitiveness impedimental factors of Latvian manufacturing companies in the Chinese market are as follows: logistics to China is expensive and time-consuming, lack of support from state government for exporting to China and inappropriate marketing to sell products in the Chinese market.

Abstract Research purpose. Social networks have become an integral part of life, making social media one of the most significant advertising platforms, which, according to many experts and scientists, is one of the most effective brand communication techniques. According to Google’s data (Think with Google, 2018), before the purchase, shoppers like to address real people, which they think could be trusted. Branding with influencers is a new way of promoting products and services. It has also recently been a much sought research topic both in terms of studying the brand communication and the influencer phenomenon. This comparative study explores the involvement of influencers in brand communication. The aim of the research is to analyse the involvement of Latvian and Cypriot influencers in brand communication, its features in theoretical and practical aspects. Design/Methodology/Approach. The research methods used were content analysis of Latvian and Cypriot influencer accounts, comparative analysis, literature analysis and graphical method. Findings. Within the theoretical framework of the study, a review of literature has been carried out on influencers’ involvement in brand communication, with particular focus on research in Cyprus and Latvia, as well as influencer typologies, communication features and current aspects of the research. The practical part of the research explores the demographic portrait of the Cypriot and Latvian influencers, the most important features of brand communication, paying particular attention to the principles of choosing influencers’ social networking platforms and brand communication labels in their communication – hashtags (#Reklāma, #Ad, #Sadarbība, #Paidpartnership, #Apmaksātasadarbība), as well as tendencies and regularities in their use or non-use. Originality/Value/Practical implications. The results of the study can be used by brand communication researchers, as well as by marketing and public relations professionals, to identify the key features of communication of influencers, including in comparative terms, and to select optimal tactics for collaboration with influencers.