scholarly journals Data Pipelines: Modeling and Evaluation of Models

2021 ◽  
pp. 113-126
Author(s):  
Kaïs Chaabouni ◽  
Alessandra Bagnato
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Enterprise Architecture ◽  
Data Modeling ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Software Components ◽  
Monitoring Tool ◽  
Pilot Studies ◽  
Modeling Process ◽  
Modeling Software

AbstractThis chapter outlines the utility of data pipelines modeling in the context of a data driven project and enumerates metrics for evaluating the quality of the data modeling regarding the readability and the comprehensibility of the models. We start with explaining the challenges surrounding the DataBio project that led to the adoption of data pipelines modeling using the Enterprise Architecture language ArchiMate. Then we present the data modeling process with examples from DataBio pilot studies starting with modeling software components provided by project stakeholders and ending up with integration of components into data pipelines that achieve the data analytics lifecycle intended by the pilot study. We end the chapter with the evaluation of the quality of DataBio data pipelines models with metrics collected by a monitoring tool for ArchiMate models.

Mobile Learning Apps

2014 ◽  
pp. 26-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Holland
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Instructional Practices ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Pilot Studies ◽  
The Third ◽  
Instructional Needs ◽  
Instructional Use ◽  
Best Instructional Practices

With the phenomenal growth of mobile applications or apps used for teaching and learning, we are all challenged with determining which ones are effective and efficient in meeting our specific instructional needs. The use of mobile apps directly impacts students, teachers, administrators, trainers, and employees worldwide. Apps are used across all discipline areas in a variety of settings including applied interdisciplinary approaches. With this in mind, it is critical to have a workable set of app analysis questions based on current best educational practices to assist in making informed decisions on app selections to provide quality teaching and learning experiences. This chapter provides a mixed method research study combining class observations with results from three pilots in an effort to create a set of quality questions for quickly evaluating mobile apps for instructional implementation. After creating a set of questions for evaluating the quality of the apps based on current best instructional practices, the following three pilot studies were conducted. The first pilot allowed students to select an app of their own choice followed by a survey to evaluate the app using both quantitative and qualitative open-ended responses. The second pilot had all students examine the same app followed by the same survey to analyze potential differences in results and to gain additional insights. The third pilot study used the same questions, but this time rather than using it to evaluate the app, the students evaluated the quality of the questions used. During the third pilot study, students were looking strictly at the quality of the questions for instructional use. All study participants were graduate-level students in Instructional Design and Technology and were aware of best instructional practices. It is anticipated, post study, instructors and trainers can begin using the evaluation instrument, selecting those questions meeting their unique instructional needs.

scholarly journals Conducting the Pilot Study: A Neglected Part of the Research Process? Methodological Findings Supporting the Importance of Piloting in Qualitative Research Studies

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 160940691987834 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Malmqvist ◽  
Kristina Hellberg ◽  
Gunvie Möllås ◽  
Richard Rose ◽  
Michael Shevlin
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Pilot Studies ◽  
Recorded Data

During the development of research to compare the processes and impact of inclusive education in Sweden with results obtained from a study undertaken in Ireland, a pilot study was conducted and documented. The pilot study had three aims: (1) to gather data to provide guidance for a substantive study adapted to Swedish conditions through modification of Irish research procedures and instruments, (2) to critically interrogate how we as researchers could most effectively conduct a pilot study utilizing observational and video-recorded data, and (3) to use the Irish theoretical model as a tool of analysis for studying inclusion in two Swedish schools. Although pilot studies are frequently conducted to assess the efficacy of research instruments for use in qualitative research projects, few publications have drawn upon empirical findings related to such studies. Additionally, while methodological texts recommend the use of pilot studies in qualitative research, there is a lack of reported research focusing on how to conduct such pilot studies. We argue that our methodological findings may contribute to greater awareness of the important role that a pilot study may have for full-scale qualitative research projects, for example, in case study research where semi-structured qualitative interviews are used. This argument is based on the assumption that researchers, and especially novice researchers, having conducted a pilot study will be better informed and prepared to face the challenges that are likely to arise in the substantive study and more confident in the instruments to be used for data collection. A proper analysis of the procedures and results from the pilot study facilitates the identification of weaknesses that may be addressed. A carefully organized and managed pilot study has the potential to increase the quality of the research as results from such studies can inform subsequent parts of the research process.

scholarly journals Transparency in Quality of Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer in the Netherlands: a National Registration of Radiotherapy-parameters

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nansi Maliko ◽  
Marcel R Stam ◽  
Liesbeth J Boersma ◽  
Marie-Jeanne T.F.D. Vrancken Peeters ◽  
Michel W.J.M. Wouters ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Chest Wall ◽  
Organs At Risk ◽  
Practice Variation ◽  
Dose Fractionation ◽  
Partial Breast Irradiation ◽  
Pilot Studies ◽  
Dicom Rt

Abstract Background: Radiotherapy (RT) is part of the curative treatment of approximately 70% of breast cancer (BC) patients. Wide practice variation has been reported in RT dose, fractionation and its treatment planning for BC. To decrease this practice variation, it is essential to first gain insight into the current variation in RT treatment between institutes. This paper describes the development of the NABON Breast Cancer Audit-Radiotherapy (NBCA-R), a structural nationwide registry of BC RT data of all BC patients treated with at least surgery and RT.Methods: A working group consisting of representatives of the BC Platform of the Dutch Radiotherapy Society selected a set of RT parameters deemed to be surrogate outcome parameters. Two pilot studies were carried out in six RT institutes: First, data were manually entered into a secured web-based system, and second, data were entered using an automatic Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) RT upload module.Results: The NBCA-R dataset was created by selecting RT parameters describing given dose, target volumes, coverage and homogeneity, and dose to organs at risk (OAR). Entering the data was made mandatory for all dutch RT departments. In the first pilot study (N=1093), quite some variation was already detected. Application of partial breast irradiation varied from 0%-17% between the 6 institutes and boost to the tumour bed from 26.5%-70.2%. For patients treated to the left breast or chest wall only, the average mean heart dose (MHD) varied from 0.80 Gy – 1.82 Gy; for patients treated to the breast/chest wall only, the average mean lung dose (MLD) varied from 2.06 Gy – 3.3 Gy. In the second pilot study 6 departments implemented the DICOM-RT upload module in daily practice. Anonymised data will be available for researchers via a FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) framework.Conclusions: We have developed a set of RT parameters and implemented registration for all dutch BC patients. With the use of an automated upload module registration burden will be minimized. Based on the data in the NBCA-R analyses of the practice variation will be done, with the ultimate aim to improve quality of BC RT. Trial registration: Retrospectively registered

Online self-management for gay men living with HIV: a pilot study

Sexual Health ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya Millard ◽  
Karalyn McDonald ◽  
Sonya Girdler ◽  
Sean Slavin ◽  
Julian Elliot
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Pilot Studies ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Positive Outlook ◽  
Living With Hiv

Background The aim of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of Positive Outlook, an online self-management program for gay men living with HIV in Australia. Methods: Two pilot studies were conducted, a small feasibility study (Pilot 1) followed by a pilot randomised controlled study (Pilot 2). Pilot 1 employed a pre and post-test design and included 10 men. Within- and between-group differences were evaluated in Pilot 2, which involved 37 participants randomly assigned to receive the Positive Outlook Program or usual care. We report on feasibility, acceptability and a range of preliminary efficacy outcomes, including health education impact, HIV-related quality of life and HIV-related self-efficacy. Results: The program was well accepted by participants with some decline in engagement with the discussion boards witnessed over the duration of the program. Overall, intervention group participants demonstrated improvements in the majority of efficacy outcome measures, including HIV-related quality of life, self-efficacy, self-management skills, social support and adjustment to HIV. Conclusion: These pilot studies demonstrated that an online program to facilitate self-management among gay men living with HIV is both feasible and well accepted by participants who persisted with the program per protocol. Preliminary data suggest that the Positive Outlook program has the potential to enhance participants’ quality of life, self-efficacy and health related outcomes, and demonstrates the need for further study with a larger sample.

Using Photovoice as a method for assessing the quality of life of individuals impacted by gynecologic malignancies: A pilot study

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Lipe ◽  
Deidre Pereira ◽  
Stacy Dodd ◽  
Tim Sannes ◽  
Michelle Bishop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Gynecologic Malignancies

Feasibility and Clinical Implications of Remotely Guided Ultrasound Examinations

2020 ◽  
Vol 91 (7) ◽  
pp. 592-596
Author(s):  
Quinn Dufurrena ◽  
Kazi Imran Ullah ◽  
Erin Taub ◽  
Connor Leszczuk ◽  
Sahar Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Utility ◽  
Regional Wall Motion ◽  
Subjective Assessment ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Pilot Studies ◽  
Objective Quality ◽  
The Us ◽  
Regional Wall Motion Abnormalities ◽  
Wall Motion Abnormalities

BACKGROUND: Remotely guided ultrasound (US) examinations carried out by nonmedical personnel (novices) have been shown to produce clinically useful examinations, at least in small pilot studies. Comparison of the quality of such exams to those carried out by trained medical professionals is lacking in the literature. This study compared the objective quality and clinical utility of cardiac and pulmonary US examinations carried out by novices and trained physicians.METHODS: Cardiac and pulmonary US examinations were carried out by novices under remote guidance by an US expert and independently by US trained physicians. Exams were blindly evaluated by US experts for both a task-based objective score as well as a subjective assessment of clinical utility.RESULTS: Participating in the study were 16 novices and 9 physicians. Novices took longer to complete the US exams (median 641.5 s vs. 256 s). For the objective component, novices scored higher in exams evaluating for pneumothorax (100% vs. 87.5%). For the subjective component, novices more often obtained clinically useful exams in the assessment of cardiac regional wall motion abnormalities (56.3% vs. 11.1%). No other comparisons yielded statistically significant differences between the two groups. Both groups had generally higher scores for pulmonary examinations compared to cardiac. There was variability in the quality of exams carried out by novices depending on their expert guide.CONCLUSION: Remotely guided novices are able to carry out cardiac and pulmonary US examinations with similar, if not better, technical proficiency and clinical utility as US trained physicians, though they take longer to do so.Dufurrena Q, Ullah KI, Taub E, Leszczuk C, Ahmad S. Feasibility and clinical implications of remotely guided ultrasound examinations. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(7):592–596.

scholarly journals Implementation of Person-Centered Care: A Feasibility Study Using the WE-CARE Roadmap

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2205
Author(s):  
Roman A. Lewandowski ◽  
Jędrzej B. Lewandowski ◽  
Inger Ekman ◽  
Karl Swedberg ◽  
Jan Törnell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Quality Care ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Rehabilitation Hospital ◽  
Person Centered Care ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Multi Disciplinary Team

Background: Person-Centered Care (PCC) is a promising approach towards improved quality of care and cost containment within health systems. It has been evaluated in Sweden and England. This feasibility study examines initial PCC implementation in a rehabilitation hospital for children in Poland. Methods: The WE-CARE Roadmap of enablers was used to guide implementation of PCC for patients with moderate scoliosis. A multi-disciplinary team of professionals were trained in the PCC approach and the hospital Information Technology (IT) system was modified to enhance PCC data capture. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the nine health care professionals involved in the pilot study and three patients/parents receiving care. Transcribed data were analyzed via content analysis. Results: 51 patients and their families were treated via a PCC approach. High proportions of new PCC data fields were completed by the professionals. The professionals were able to implement the three core PCC routines and perceived benefits using the PCC approach. Patients and their families also perceived improved quality care. The WE-CARE framework enablers facilitated PCC implementation in this setting. Conclusions: This feasibility pilot study indicates that the Gothenburg PCC approach can be successfully transferred to a rehabilitation hospital in Poland with favorable perceptions of implementation by both professionals and patients/their families.

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