Does high-variation training facilitate transfer of training in paediatric transthoracic echocardiography?

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Colin J. McMahon ◽  
Sarah Gallagher ◽  
Adam James ◽  
Aoife Deery ◽  
Mark Rhodes ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Factors that facilitate transfer of training in paediatric echocardiography remain poorly understood. This study assessed whether high-variation training facilitated successful transfer in paediatric echocardiography. Methods: A mixed-methods study of transfer of technical and interpretive skill application amongst postgraduate trainees. Trainees were randomised to a low or high-variation training group. After a period of 8 weeks intensive echocardiography training, we video-recorded how trainees completed an echocardiogram in a complex cardiac lesion not previously encountered. Blinded quantitative analysis and scoring of trainee performance (echocardiogram performance, report, and technical proficiency) were performed using a validated assessment tool by a blinded cardiologist and senior cardiac physiologist. Qualitative interviews of the trainees were recorded to ascertain trainee experiences during the training and transfer process. Results: Sixteen trainees were enrolled in the study. For the cumulative score for all three components tested (echocardiogram performance, report, and technical proficiency), χ2 = 8.223, p = .016, which showed the high-variation group outperformed the low-variation group. Two common themes which assisted in the transfer emerged from interviews are as follows: (1) use of strategies described in variation theory to describe abnormal hearts, (2) the use of formative live feedback from trainers during hands-on training. Conclusion: Training strategies exposing trainees to high-variation training may aid transfer of paediatric echocardiography skills.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 602-603
Author(s):  
Rachael Spalding ◽  
Emma Katz ◽  
Barry Edelstein

Abstract Most older adults living in long-term care settings (LTCs) indicate that expressing their sexuality is important to them (Doll, 2013). Little is known about the general public’s attitudes towards sexual behaviors in LTCs. Attitudes of LTC residents’ family members are particularly important, as family members are most likely to visit residents and to care about their quality of life. Family members’ attitudes could in turn inform facility policies and management. We will present preliminary data from a series of qualitative interviews with community-dwelling adults regarding their attitudes. We will discuss how these data are being used to inform current work on a measure of attitudes toward sexual behavior in LTCs.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0242881
Author(s):  
Elizabeth E. Tolley ◽  
Seth Zissette ◽  
Andres Martinez ◽  
Thesla Palanee-Phillips ◽  
Florence Mathebula ◽  
...  

In HIV prevention trials, male partners have influenced women’s ability to adhere to investigational products, including antiretroviral (ARV) containing vaginal rings. Validated scales can be useful tools to systematically measure complex constructs, such as those related to male partner engagement. Although multiple scales exist to assess physical, psychological and sexual violence within intimate relationships, fewer scales focus on supportive behaviors within these relationships. Our intervention involved development of a Healthy Relationship Assessment Tool (HEART) that assessed both positive and negative aspects of male partner involvement in women’s HIV prevention. We identified and refined 127 potential items, representing intimate partner violence, agency and social support. A structured survey, including potential items and other sociodemographic and behavioral variables was administered to former microbicide trial and non-trial participants. We conducted an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to identify a reduced set of constructs and items to screen women who might experience social harms or benefits from vaginal ring use. We examined associations between constructs and with other survey variables to assess content and construct validity. In a subset of 10 women who participated in the survey and qualitative interviews, we used qualitative data to predict survey scores. We retained five constructs with theoretical relevance and good-to-strong reliability for the tool, including: Traditional Values; Partner Support; Partner Abuse & Control; Partner Resistance to HIV Prevention; and HIV Prevention Readiness. Predicted associations between HEART constructs, and correspondence between participants’ qualitative data and HEART scores were generally correct, while those between constructs and other sociodemographic variables were more mixed. Initial validation of the HEART tool was promising. The tool will be used during the CHARISMA pilot study at the Johannesburg MTN 025/HOPE site and validated as part of a randomized controlled trial of CHARISMA within a PrEP demonstration project. Beyond clinical trial settings, HEART could assist PrEP or antiretroviral treatment (ART) providers with an easy-to-administer tool to identify risk and tailor risk reduction, empowerment and adherence counseling for microbicides, PrEP or ART related services.


2007 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 9-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Fontannaz ◽  
H. Oosthuizen

The emergence of the networked economy implies that traditional management approaches no longer suffice in addressing the challenge of complexity. This is compounded by the existence of divergent approaches to determining organisational performance in both management practice and academia, resulting in an execution gap occurring between strategy formulation and results.This article contributes to an understanding of organisational performance by integrating the divergent approaches to determining organisational performance into the Performance ‘ESP’ framework. This provides a conceptual framework to guide organisational development. The research to validate the framework includes a grounded theory approach, comprising a meta-analytical study of existing research, in-depth qualitative interviews and the pilot testing of the Performance ESP Index, which provides a composite measure of the multi-faceted stakeholder view of organisational performance.The research concludes that organisational performance resides in an organisation’s ability to integrate the divergent approaches, to create an execution culture with the necessary dynamic capabilities for sustainable organisational performance in addressing the challenge of complexity. There needs to be diversity in executive abilities at board level to ensure the integration of strategy and people to create the execution culture. Furthermore, leadership should focus on the strategic fusion of strategy and people, whilst management should focus on developing the strategic paradigm throughout the organisation to ensure an execution culture.The Performance ESP framework provides a diagnostic tool to assess the existence of an execution culture to address the challenge of complexity. The purpose of the assessment tool is to complement the financial metrics of profitability, to ensure a balance between short term profitability and growth for sustainable organisational performance.Further research is required to confirm the reliability of the Performance ESP index as the initial pilot study, whilst indicative of the potential of the instrument, did not provide conclusive evidence of reliability.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-75
Author(s):  
Lina Katan ◽  
Charlotte Andreas Baarts

Reading is an activity in which both researchers and students invest immense time and energy. However, reading is disregarded as a research method and generally assigned a marginal position as a mere supplement to empirical hands-on methods. In this article we argue that reading should be recognized as a method of inquiry. Based on qualitative interviews with 20 researchers from a humanities department, we explore how researchers read, and we show how reading contributes significantly to their knowledge production. We argue that the concepts of ‘close reading’ and ‘surface reading’ in addition to ‘deep approach’ and ‘surface approach’ insufficiently convey how researchers read. Instead we propose the concept 'Inquiry-Based Reading' for designating the specific orientation towards texts that characterizes how researchers practise reading to further their research. Finally, we suggest that the conceptualization of inquiry-based reading could open up new discussions about the current position of reading in methods curriculum.


2020 ◽  
Vol 08 (02) ◽  
pp. E186-E188
Author(s):  
Ivo Boškoski ◽  
George Webster ◽  
Andrea Tringali ◽  
Pietro Familiari ◽  
Vincenzo Perri ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and study aims Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) requires extensive hands-on training. Currently in ERCP training there are two very important problems that need attention: lack of standardized commands for communication, and misunderstanding between the trainee and the trainer. Methods A method of “blind-eye” cannulation was developed with two paired trainees using the Boškoski-Costamagna ERCP Trainer. The trainee who was holding the duodenoscope was blind-folded and the other trainee gave instructions on what maneuvers were necessary to achieve cannulation, under the supervision of a trainer. Before starting cannulation, a standard list of commands was agreed by the operators. Results The blind-eye method of cannulation teaches the operator trainee to listen and the assistant trainee to teach. Trainees use standardized commands. During the training session the two trainees swapped roles. Conclusions Currently, we do not have proof that this type of training is useful, therefore, scientific studies are needed for confirmation. However, we believe that this ERCP model may provide an entirely safe means of improving communication and technical proficiency.


2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (7) ◽  
pp. 935-947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Min Lee ◽  
James Cole Galloway

Background Daily experiences are thought to play an important role in motor development during infancy. There are limited studies on the effect of postural and movement experiences on head control. Objective The purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of postural and movement experiences on head control through a comprehensive set of measurements beginning when infants were 1 month old. Design This was a prospective, longitudinal, 2-cohort study. Methods Twenty-two full-term infants who were healthy were randomly assigned to either a training group or a control group. Infants were observed every other week from 1 to 4 months of age. Head control was assessed using a standardized developmental assessment tool, the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP), as well as behavioral coding and kinematics of infants' head postures and movements in a supported sitting position. Caregivers performed at least 20 minutes of daily postural and movement activities (training group), or social interaction (control group) for 4 weeks. Results The training group had higher TIMP scores on head control–related items during the training period and after training stopped compared with the control group. Starting from the during training phase, the training group infants had their heads in a vertical and midline position longer compared with the control group infants. After training stopped, the training group infants actively moved their heads forward more often and for larger distances. Limitations The experiences outside daily training were not monitored, and the results may be specific to the experimental setup for infants with typical development. Conclusions Young infants are able to take advantage of postural and movement experiences to rapidly advance their head control as early as 4 to 6 weeks of postnatal life. Infant positioning, caregiver handling, and caregiver-infant interactions were likely contributing factors. This database of comprehensive measures may be useful in future trials focused on head control in infants with special needs.


Author(s):  
Madeline Carbery ◽  
Richard Schulz ◽  
Juleen Rodakowski ◽  
Lauren Terhorst ◽  
Beth Fields

Hospital practitioners rely on care partners of older adults to provide complex care without identifying and addressing their needs. The Care Partner Hospital Assessment Tool (CHAT) was developed to identify the education skill training needs of care partners of hospitalized older adults. This two-phased mixed-method study evaluated the appropriateness and feasibility of the CHAT. The phase 1 quantitative survey with caregiving experts indicated 70–100% agreement for the length and helpfulness of the CHAT (n = 23). These results were supported by phase 2 qualitative interviews with hospital administrators and practitioners, which revealed the following themes: (1) intuitive and clear design worth sustaining and (2) concerns and proposed solutions for implementation. Findings suggest the CHAT is an appropriate and feasible tool for hospital practitioners to tailor their education and skills training to address care partners’ needs. Identifying care partners’ needs is an important step in ensuring they are prepared to complete their caregiving responsibilities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 4084 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Bell ◽  
Himansu Sekhar Mishra ◽  
Lewis R. Elliott ◽  
Rebecca Shellock ◽  
Peeter Vassiljev ◽  
...  

Within the BlueHealth project, funded under the Horizon 2020 European Union research framework, a number of targeted experimental design interventions were used to test the effect and impact of planning and design on encouraging people to use various blue spaces. Complex interventions were implemented and evaluations before and after each were made using a set of tools which triangulate with each other—a site assessment tool, a behaviour observation tool, a questionnaire survey (including an economic evaluation) and qualitative interviews. The theoretical basis for the research is that of affordances, and the projects each involved modest changes to the landscape using the approach of “urban acupuncture” where a small intervention can potentially have an effect out of all proportion to the investment. This paper is a protocol paper and describes the research strategy and methodology in detail for one of the intervention sites, located in Plymouth in the UK. The aim is to present the methodology as a whole so as to act as (a) a reference framework for the results of all the projects which will be reported separately in a series of research articles once all the results are in and analysed and (b) a useful reference for other researchers wishing to carry out such complex projects and where a comprehensive presentation of the strategy and methodology is unavailable. We offer this protocol for reference, for critique and for inspiration to those following us.


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 677-687
Author(s):  
Emma Patchwood ◽  
Kate Woodward-Nutt ◽  
Katy Rothwell ◽  
Catherine Perry ◽  
Pippa Tyrrell ◽  
...  

Objectives: To explore the feasibility of using a stroke-specific toolkit for six-month post-stroke reviews in care homes to identify unmet needs and actions. Design: An observational study including qualitative interviews to explore the process and outcome of reviews. Setting: UK care homes. Participants: Stroke survivors, family members, care home staff (review participants) and external staff involved in conducting reviews (assessors). Interventions: Modified Greater Manchester Stroke Assessment Tool (GM-SAT). Results: The observational study provided data on 74 stroke survivors across 51 care homes. In total, out of 74, 45 (61%) had unmet needs identified. Common unmet needs related to blood pressure, mobility, medicine management and mood. We conducted 25 qualitative interviews, including 13 review participants and 12 assessors. Three overarching qualitative themes covered acceptability of conducting reviews in care homes, process and outcomes of reviews, and acceptability of modified GM-SAT review toolkit. The modified GM-SAT review was positively valued, but stroke survivors had poor recall of the review event including the actions agreed. Care home staff sometimes assisted with reviews and highlighted their need for training to support day-to-day needs of stroke survivors. Assessors highlighted a need for clearer guidance on the use of the toolkit and suggested further modifications to enhance it. They also identified organizational barriers and facilitators to implementing reviews and communicating planned actions to GPs and other agencies. Conclusion: The modified GM-SAT provides a feasible means of conducting six-month reviews for stroke survivors in care homes and helps identify important needs. Further modifications have enhanced acceptability. Full implementation into practice requires staff training and organizational changes.


Author(s):  
Rhonda Chicone ◽  
Tina Marie Burton ◽  
Julie A. Huston

There is a high demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals, however, entry-level employees and college graduates often lack the hands-on and real-world experience they need to be successful in the cybersecurity industry. This high demand has led educators to pursue innovative and smart application technologies as a way for students to gain hands-on skills and to practice those skills in a safe and fun environment. Cybergames are now being used by educational institutions and in private and public industry sectors. One popular game in the cybersecurity space is called Capture the Flag (CTF). This study investigates Facebook's CTF platform as a cost-effective learning and assessment tool for undergraduate and graduate cybersecurity adult students for an online university.


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