scholarly journals Experiences in growing a skin radiation therapy practice

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 168-183
Author(s):  
Gerald B Fogarty ◽  
David RH Christie ◽  
Brad Wong ◽  
Esther Sim ◽  
Evan Ng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Therapy ◽  
Skin Disease ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
High Quality ◽  
High Quality Research ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Essential Knowledge ◽  
High Quality Service ◽  
Cumulative Experience

The successful treatment of skin disease decreases morbidity and mortality. Radiation therapy (RT) can cure skin disease and conserves tissue, possibly delivering better quality of life post treatment and so a superior survivorship. Modern RT delivers better dose conformality and homogeneity, and more is known about the radiobiology of skin and its diseases, enabling treatment personalisation. Skin, however, can be viewed in RT departments as not a serious subspecialty, even in Australia where the incidence of skin cancer is highest. Radiation oncology leaders are needed to carve out a niche for RT amongst a crowded field of skin carers. This article based on the cumulative experience of a group of Australian skin radiation oncologists (ROs), details how this may be achieved. First, focus is placed on growing a high-quality service. The RO needs to understand how patient, tumour and treatment factors impact the skin RT prescription. The particular nuances around skin RT planning, including immobilisation, simulation, contouring and the advantages and disadvantages of each RT modality in skin, are important to know. How skin reacts to RT when the skin is the target and the importance of fractionation is essential knowledge. Second, the RO needs to understand the needs of the skin stakeholders. These include those in the department who look to them for leadership. It includes those outside the department, that is, patients and other skin carers who could be future colleagues and even referrers. Third, the RO needs to use much needed research as a way to bring the disparate skin caring community together through completing high-quality research to guide therapy and post-treatment care.

scholarly journals Effect of physical therapy on impairments in COVID-19 patients from intensive care to home rehabilitation: A rapid review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruben Debeuf ◽  
Eva Swinnen ◽  
Tine Plattiau ◽  
Ann De Smedt ◽  
Elisabeth De Waele ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Physical Therapy ◽  
Physical Function ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
High Quality ◽  
High Quality Research ◽  
Quality Research ◽  
Psychosocial Function ◽  
Inpatient Units

Objective: Guidelines regarding physical therapy for COVID-19 patients are often based on expert opinion. Recent clinical trials have reported effects on several rehabilitation outcomes in COVID-19 patients. This review summarizes the effects of physical therapy in COVID-19 patients. Data sources: PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases were systematically searched for studies investigating the effect of any physical therapy modality on impairments in adult COVID-19 patients. Included studies were (non)-randomized controlled trials, pre-experimental studies, and cohort studies in which a pre–post analysis was performed. Data extraction: After the screening process, data of interest were extracted from eligible studies and their risk of bias was assessed. Included outcome measures were divided into 3 groups: pulmonary function, physical function, and psychosocial function. Data synthesis: A total of 15 studies were included in this review. Physical therapy seems to have positive effects on pulmonary function, physical function, and psychosocial function. However, these effects differ between clinical settings (e.g. home care, intensive care unit, inpatient units). Due to the low-to-moderate quality of the included studies, no robust conclusions can be drawn. Conclusion: Further high-quality research is required, taking into account the different clinical settings, in order to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of physical therapy on impairments in COVID-19 patients.   Lay Abstract Guidelines regarding physical therapy for COVID-19 patients are often based on expert opinion or on evidence from studies of physical therapy in patients with other diseases. More and more clinical studies are investigat-ing the effect of physical therapy on the recovery of COVID-19 patients. Prior to this review, the importance of physical therapy for COVID-19 patients was not clear. This review summarizes the effects of physical therapy in COVID-19 patients. We reviewed and assessed the quality of the existing literature on this topic. Fifteen studies with a total of 1,341 COVID-19 patients were included in this review. Physical therapy appears to improve lung function, physical function, and psychosocial func-tion in COVID-19 patients. However, the effect can differ between clinical settings; for example, home care, intensive care unit, or other inpatient units. Due to the low-to-moderate quality of the included studies, no robust conclusion can be drawn. Further high-quality research is needed, taking into account the different clinical settings.

Are gynaecologists confident addressing sexual issues with menopausal women?

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 131-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lis Cordingley ◽  
Fiona Mackie ◽  
Andrea Pilkington ◽  
Christine Bundy
Keyword(s):  
Older Women ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Communication Training ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
High Quality ◽  
High Quality Research ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Menopausal Women ◽  
And Training

The menopause is an important transition point for women in terms of their experience of sex. Higher expectations of a longer, healthier lifespan means that access to health professionals with the skills to address sexual issues is more important than ever. This review of the literature considered four broad areas: the influence of patient and practitioner characteristics on consultations about sexual issues for peri- and postmenopausal women; perceived barriers to discussion of sexual issues; the role and effectiveness of communication training; and examples of good practice in the field. This is an under-researched area with few papers focusing on the specific needs of this group of patients or practitioners. In order to improve the quality of life of mid-life and older women, more high-quality research is needed that can inform both education and training for gynaecologists, and the development of high-quality services.

Methodology and Scientific Competition

Episteme ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Max Albert
Keyword(s):  
Quality Standards ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Average Quality ◽  
High Quality ◽  
High Quality Research ◽  
Quality Work ◽  
Beauty Contest ◽  
Relevant Field ◽  
Quality Of Research

Why is the average quality of research in open science so high? The answer seems obvious. Science is highly competitive, and publishing high quality research is the way to rise to the top. Thus, researchers face strong incentives to produce high quality work. However, this is only part of the answer. High quality in science, after all, is what researchers in the relevant field consider to be high quality. Why and how do competing researchers coordinate on common quality standards? I argue that, on the methodological level, science is a dynamic beauty contest.

scholarly journals Measuring service quality at Wan Hai Lines outbound services

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ha Nam Khanh Giao ◽  
Duong Ngoc Ha
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Transit Time ◽  
Three Dimension ◽  
Quality Service ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Dimension Analysis ◽  
Full Picture ◽  
Improve Service Quality ◽  
High Quality Service

Service quality is still a new concept to those who works in shipping lines services since it has not been identified as a mandatory factor to increase the competitiveness. Most carriers are currently offering services at the same level of price, transit time, equipment, etc. Thus offering a high quality service is the best way for a carrier to differentiate itself from its competitors in the market. The research aims to conduct an assessment on service quality at Wan Hai Lines outbound services based on the SERVQUAL model, form of dimension-by-dimension analysis. The outcome is the service quality of Wan Hai Lines outbound services can be identified by three dimension Empathy and Responsiveness, Assurance, and Reliability. It would help the management to have a clear and full picture about the current service quality, and to have the ways to improve service quality following the recommendations.

Analysis of synchronization of satellite communication systems at combined methods of multi -station access to repeater

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 32-41
Author(s):  
Sergey Zinkin ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Communication Systems ◽  
Satellite Communication ◽  
Earth Satellite ◽  
Artificial Earth Satellite ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Optimal Method ◽  
High Quality Research ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Artificial Earth ◽  
Combined Methods

Spatially-frequency, spatially-time, and spatially-frequency-time multi-station access to the re-translator is a characteristic feature of modern satellite communication systems. The article analyzes the ways of synchronization of satellite communication systems with combined methods of multi-station access to a repeater located on an artificial earth satellite. The analysis will allow us to organize and conduct high-quality research to identify the most optimal method experimentally, taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

scholarly journals A Principal Component of Quality of Life Measures Is Associated with Survival for Head and Neck Cancer Patients Treated with Radiation Therapy

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1155
Author(s):  
Mark Farrugia ◽  
Han Yu ◽  
Sung Jun Ma ◽  
Austin J. Iovoli ◽  
Kristopher Attwood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Principal Component Analysis ◽  
Overall Survival ◽  
Radiation Therapy ◽  
Head And Neck Cancer ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Neck Cancer ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Post Treatment

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) metrics can be associated with survival in head and neck cancer (HNC); however, the impact of HRQOL recovery and the relevant HRQOL domains regarding outcome are unclear. Methods: Using a single-institution database, we retrospectively reviewed HNC patients treated with definitive or postoperative radiation therapy between 2013 and 2018. The recovery of individual HRQOL domains were determined by the ratio of the post-treatment to baseline scores. Univariate and Multivariate Cox regression were used to analyze survival outcomes. Principal component analysis was used to adjust for multicollinearity of HRQOL domains. Results: In 218 HNC patients who received radiation therapy, median follow-up was 24.8 months (interquartile range (IQR) 14.5–32.0). Principal component analysis evaluating the recovery of HRQOL domains revealed two independent principal components (PC), PC1 and PC2. PC1, which received contributions from the functional domains; physical (PF), role (RF), emotional (EF), cognitive (CF), and global health status (GQOL) was significantly associated with disease-free (HR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.61–0.98, p = 0.034) and overall survival (HR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.65–0.91, p = 0.004) on multivariate analysis and PC2, had no correlation with outcome and was mainly represented by social functioning. Unplanned hospitalization was significantly associated with lower PC1 scores (β = −0.997, Std. Error = 0.244, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study provides evidence that post-treatment recovery of HRQOL domains were associated with overall survival (OS) in HNC. PC1 is an attractive clinical tool to assess the recovery across multiple different HRQOL and the relationship with survival. Future prospective studies may identify patients who could benefit from additional rehabilitation based on PC1 score.

scholarly journals EDITORIAL

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huseyin Uzunboylu
Keyword(s):  
Review Process ◽  
Peer Review Process ◽  
Research Papers ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
High Quality Research ◽  
Related Field ◽  
Educational Sciences ◽  
Day By Day

Dear Colleagues; It is a great honour for us to welcome you as Editor of Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences, which has accepted publications indexed in qualified databases since 2006. Our main aim is to increase the quality of the journal day by day. We are ready to publish the new issue of Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences, which has eight articles with authors from various countries. The aim of this issue is to give the researchers an opportunity to share their academic studies. A total number of forty-three (43) manuscripts were submitted for this issue and each paper has been subjected to double-blind peer review process by the reviewers specialized in the related field. At the end of the review process, a total number of thirteen (13) high quality research papers were selected and accepted for publication. First of all, I would like to thank all authors who have contributed to this issue . The topics of the next issue will be different. You can make sure that we will be trying to serve you with our journal with a rich knowledge in which different kinds of topics are discussed in 2019 Volume. I would like to present many thanks to all the contributors who helped to publish this issue.   Best Regards,  Prof. Dr. Huseyin Uzunboylu Editor in Chief

scholarly journals APPLICATION OF LOAD BALANCING ALGORITHMS FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF SERVICE

2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 308-314
Author(s):  
S. Joldasbayev ◽  
◽  
B. Kulambayev ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Service ◽  
Load Balancing ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Quality Service ◽  
Service Delivery System ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Maximum Benefit ◽  
High Quality Service

To develop solutions to the problems of providing high-speed Internet, that is, a high-quality service, up to a certain point, there is the possibility of improving quality by increasing the hardware resources of the system, but, as practice shows, quantity does not always mean quality, and the effectiveness of the service delivery system takes into account the advantageous positioning of resources with algorithmic load balancing on servers with maximum benefit, both for the user and for the party providing services. This article provides the results of research and analysis of balancing algorithms, implementation methods for load balancing on servers and improving the quality of service delivery. Research in this direction is very relevant and in demand, the article provides an analysis and description of static and dynamic solutions, the advantages and disadvantages of algorithms.

scholarly journals Exploring the Role of Web-Based Interventions in the Self-management of Dementia: Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis

10.2196/26551 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. e26551
Author(s):  
Abigail Rebecca Lee ◽  
Esther Vera Gerritzen ◽  
Orii McDermott ◽  
Martin Orrell
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Narrative Synthesis ◽  
High Quality ◽  
High Quality Research ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Management Concepts

Background The increasing prevalence of dementia has promoted a move toward equipping people with the skills required for greater self-management of the condition to enable a better quality of life. Self-management encompasses numerous skills, such as goal setting and decision making, which aim to improve an individual’s physical and mental well-being when they live with long-term health conditions. Effective self-management may lead to increased well-being and quality of life. Reviews of web-based and app-based interventions have suggested that they have the potential to provide self-management support for people living with a range of conditions, including dementia. Objective The aim of this review is to explore the existing use of web-based or app-based interventions that facilitate or support self-management in dementia and discuss their effectiveness in promoting self-management and independence. Methods A total of 5 electronic databases were systematically searched for relevant articles published between January 2010 and March 2020. Included studies were appraised using the Downs and Black checklist and the Critical Appraisal Skills Program qualitative research checklist. A narrative synthesis framework was applied using tables and conceptual mapping to explore the relationships within and among studies. Results A total of 2561 articles were identified from the initial search, of which 11 (0.43%) met the inclusion criteria for the final analysis. These included 5 quantitative, 4 mixed methods, and 2 qualitative studies. All the included articles were of fair to high quality across the two appraisal measures. Interventions were delivered through a range of web-based and app-based technologies and targeted several self-management concepts. However, there was inconsistency regarding the domains, often affected by dementia, that were targeted by the interventions reviewed. Conclusions Web-based and app-based interventions for dementia can be delivered through a range of means and can target different aspects of self-management. The small number of studies included in this review report positive outcomes that seem to support the use of these interventions for people living with dementia. However, there is a clear need for more high-quality research into this type of intervention delivery and for studies that use a much larger number of participants across the dementia spectrum. Future research should consider the barriers to and facilitators of intervention adoption highlighted in this review and whether interventions can encompass the physical, social, cognitive, and emotional domains affected by dementia.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document