The use of voice in higher education: What the professors have to say?

ABSTRACT Purpose: to describe the perception of university professors regarding their use of voice at work. Methods: a total of 247 higher education professors participated in this study. They answered a questionnaire on voice complaints, in which three complaints or more were considered indicative of a voice disorder. After the professors with a potential voice disorder were identified, a conversational interview was conducted with five professors to learn more on their perceptions on the use of voice at work. The study was approved by the research ethics committee of the institution of origin. The data were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed. Results: the age group 20 to 30 years old was the one that most presented voice problems. The most recently hired professors (up to five years of work), with a 40-hour weekly workload, were those who most reported voice complaints. The professors had a good perception of their voice and demonstrated good knowledge about it. Conclusion: although voice complaints were prevalent, the professors proved to be aware of how to take care of their voices.

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Oxford Understanding Relationships, Sex, Power, Abuse and Consent Experiences (OUR SPACE) cross-sectional survey: a study protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051826 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. e051826

Author(s):

Bridget Steele ◽

Michelle Degli Esposti ◽

Pete Mandeville ◽

Gillian Hamnett ◽

Elizabeth Nye ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Sexual Violence ◽

Research Ethics ◽

Ethics Committee ◽

Health Concern ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Research Ethics Committee ◽

University Of Oxford ◽

The University

IntroductionSexual violence among higher education students is a public health concern, threatening the general safety of students, often with significant physical and mental health implications for victims. Establishing the prevalence estimates of sexual violence at higher education institutions (HEIs) is essential for designing and resourcing responses to sexual violence, including monitoring the effectiveness of prevention initiatives and institutional programmes. Yet, to date, there have been no rigorous studies assessing prevalence of sexual violence at HEIs in the UK.Methods and analysisInformed by guidance from Universities UK, the University of Oxford administration and the related student advocacy groups working within the University, Oxford Understanding Relationships, Sex, Power, Abuse and Consent Experiences is a cross-sectional survey of all undergraduate and graduate students over the age of 18 enrolled at the University of Oxford, UK. The survey design uses a complete sampling approach and measures adapted from previous campus climate surveys in the USA as well as the Sexual Experiences Survey (USA). The analysis will estimate the prevalence of sexual harassment and sexual violence perpetration and victimisation, and will examine whether ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation are associated with these primary outcomes.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was obtained by the Social Sciences and Humanities Interdivisional Research Ethics Committee at the University of Oxford which is a subcommittee of the Central University Research Ethics Committee (ref no.: R73805/RE001). The research team will disseminate findings through peer-reviewed journal articles and conference presentations. A report cowritten by authors and stakeholders will be shared with Oxford University students.

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O Perfil dos Acadêmicos de Engenharia de uma IES Pública e suas Potencialidades para a Evasão

Revista de Ensino Educação e Ciências Humanas ◽

10.17921/2447-8733.2021v22n4p493-498 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 493-498

Author(s):

Cristiano Rocha da Cunha ◽

Lúcio Ângelo Vidal ◽

Hyagon Stephano Tiegs ◽

Miriam Tiegs

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Research Ethics ◽

Higher Education Institutions ◽

A Priori ◽

Ethics Committee ◽

Computer Engineering ◽

Human Beings ◽

Research Ethics Committee ◽

The Family

ResumoA desistência é uma problemática que afeta, atualmente, muitas Instituições de Ensino Superior. As origens dessas evasões vêm sendo investigadas, por muitos pesquisadores, com o intento de compreendê-las e elaborar, a partir das observações feitas, ações que mitiguem essa realidade. O objetivo do estudo foi conhecer o perfil dos alunos de Engenharia da Computação e Engenharia de Automação do IFMT – Campus Cuiabá, também, compreender quais fatores podem estar contribuindo para que estes estejam desejosos ou pré-dispostos a abandonarem o curso. Por se tratar de uma pesquisa com seres humanos, foi necessária a submissão e aprovação de projeto pelo Comitê de Ética de Pesquisa do IFMT e se baseou em um questionário que, depois de aplicado aos alunos, foi posteriormente submetido à análise de suas respostas. Em suma, percebeu-se que as principais causas que, a priori, estejam relacionadas às desistências podem ser: a necessidade de alguns alunos terem que trabalhar para ajudar no sustento da família; as poucas horas de estudo extraclasse destinadas ao curso e, por último, uma falta de afinidade com a Graduação, tendo em vista que esta não era sua primeira opção de escolha profissional. Palavras-chave: Questionário. Evasão. Engenharias. Abstract Dropout is a problem that affects many higher education institutions today. The origins of such evasions have been investigated by many researchers with the intention of understanding them and elaborating, based on the observations made, actions that mitigate this reality. The objective of the study was to know the students’ profile of Computer Engineering and Automation Engineering at IFMT - Campus Cuiabá, also, to understand what factors may be contributing for them to be willing or ready to abandon the course. As it is a research with human beings, it was necessary to submit and approve the project by the IFMT Research Ethics Committee and it was based on a questionnaire which, after being applied to students, was subsequently submitted for analysis of their responses. In short, it was noticed that the main causes that, a priori, are related to dropouts can be: the need for some students to have to work to help support the family; the few hours of extra-class study aimed at the course and, lastly, a lack of affinity with undergraduate degree, considering that this was not his or her first professional choice. Keywords: Questionnaire, Evasion, Engineering.

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Citizens, Research Ethics Committee Members and Researchers’ Attitude Toward Information and Consent for the Secondary Use of Health Data: Implications for Research Within Learning Health Systems

Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics ◽

10.1177/1556264621992214 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 155626462199221

Author(s):

Annabelle Cumyn ◽

Roxanne Dault ◽

Adrien Barton ◽

Anne-Marie Cloutier ◽

Jean-François Ethier

Keyword(s):

Research Ethics ◽

Health Systems ◽

Ethics Committee ◽

Health Data ◽

Data Reuse ◽

Fundamental Importance ◽

Research Ethics Committee ◽

Secondary Use ◽

Public Perspectives ◽

Advance Knowledge

A survey was conducted to assess citizens, research ethics committee members, and researchers’ attitude toward information and consent for the secondary use of health data for research within learning health systems (LHSs). Results show that the reuse of health data for research to advance knowledge and improve care is valued by all parties; consent regarding health data reuse for research has fundamental importance particularly to citizens; and all respondents deemed important the existence of a secure website to support the information and consent processes. This survey was part of a larger project that aims at exploring public perspectives on alternate approaches to the current consent models for health data reuse to take into consideration the unique features of LHSs. The revised model will need to ensure that citizens are given the opportunity to be better informed about upcoming research and have their say, when possible, in the use of their data.

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Developing a policy to reduce the salt content of food consumed outside the home in Malaysia: protocol of a qualitative study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044628 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. e044628

Author(s):

Mhairi Karen Brown ◽

Suzana Shahar ◽

Yee Xing You ◽

Viola Michael ◽

Hazreen Abdul Majid ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Research ◽

Research Ethics ◽

Salt Intake ◽

Salt Content ◽

Ethics Committee ◽

Salt Reduction ◽

Reduction Strategy ◽

Research Ethics Committee ◽

School Canteen ◽

Medical Research Ethics

IntroductionCurrent salt intake in Malaysia is high. The existing national salt reduction policy has faced slow progress and does not yet include measures to address the out of home sector. Dishes consumed in the out of home sector are a known leading contributor to daily salt intake. This study aims to develop a salt reduction strategy, tailored to the out of home sector in Malaysia.Methods and analysisThis study is a qualitative analysis of stakeholder views towards salt reduction. Participants will be recruited from five zones of Malaysia (Western, Northern, Eastern and Southern regions and East Malaysia), including policy-makers, non-governmental organisations, food industries, school canteen operators, street food vendors and consumers, to participate in focus group discussions or in-depth interviews. Interviews will be transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Barriers will be identified and used to develop a tailored salt reduction strategy.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been obtained from the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Research Ethics Committee (UKM PPI/1118/JEP-2020–524), the Malaysian National Medical Research Ethics Committee (NMRR-20-1387-55481 (IIR)) and Queen Mary University of London Research Ethics Committee (QMERC2020/37) . Results will be presented orally and in report form and made available to the relevant ministries for example, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Trade to encourage adoption of strategy as policy. The findings of this study will be disseminated through conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications and webinars.

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Early Moves: a protocol for a population-based prospective cohort study to establish general movements as an early biomarker of cognitive impairment in infants

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041695 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. e041695

Author(s):

Catherine Elliott ◽

Caroline Alexander ◽

Alison Salt ◽

Alicia J Spittle ◽

Roslyn N Boyd ◽

...

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Research Ethics ◽

Prospective Cohort Study ◽

Prospective Cohort ◽

Ethics Committee ◽

Research Ethics Committee ◽

National Implementation ◽

General Movements

IntroductionThe current diagnostic pathways for cognitive impairment rarely identify babies at risk before 2 years of age. Very early detection and timely targeted intervention has potential to improve outcomes for these children and support them to reach their full life potential. Early Moves aims to identify early biomarkers, including general movements (GMs), for babies at risk of cognitive impairment, allowing early intervention within critical developmental windows to enable these children to have the best possible start to life.Method and analysisEarly Moves is a double-masked prospective cohort study that will recruit 3000 term and preterm babies from a secondary care setting. Early Moves will determine the diagnostic value of abnormal GMs (at writhing and fidgety age) for mild, moderate and severe cognitive delay at 2 years measured by the Bayley-4. Parents will use the Baby Moves smartphone application to video their babies’ GMs. Trained GMs assessors will be masked to any risk factors and assessors of the primary outcome will be masked to the GMs result. Automated scoring of GMs will be developed through applying machine-based learning to the data and the predictive value for an abnormal GM will be investigated. Screening algorithms for identification of children at risk of cognitive impairment, using the GM assessment (GMA), and routinely collected social and environmental profile data will be developed to allow more accurate prediction of cognitive outcome at 2 years. A cost evaluation for GMA implementation in preparation for national implementation will be undertaken including exploring the relationship between cognitive status and healthcare utilisation, medical costs, health-related quality of life and caregiver burden.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval has been granted by the Medical Research Ethics Committee of Joondalup Health Services and the Health Service Human Research Ethics Committee (1902) of Curtin University (HRE2019-0739).Trial registration numberACTRN12619001422112.

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A Call for Better, Not Faster, Research Ethics Committee Reviews in the Covid‐19 Era

Ethics & Human Research ◽

10.1002/eahr.500104 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 43 (5) ◽

pp. 42-44

Author(s):

Leonardo Tamariz ◽

Fred J. Hendler ◽

John M. Wells ◽

Annette Anderson ◽

Stephen Bartlett

Keyword(s):

Research Ethics ◽

Ethics Committee ◽

Research Ethics Committee

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Implementation of the StandingTall programme to prevent falls in older people: a process evaluation protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048395 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. e048395

Author(s):

Morag E Taylor ◽

Chris Todd ◽

Sandra O'Rourke ◽

Lindy M Clemson ◽

Jacqueline CT Close ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older People ◽

Research Ethics ◽

Process Evaluation ◽

Ethics Committee ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Innovative Technology ◽

Local Health ◽

Research Ethics Committee ◽

Personal Impact ◽

The Uk

IntroductionOne in three people aged 65 years and over fall each year. The health, economic and personal impact of falls will grow substantially in the coming years due to population ageing. Developing and implementing cost-effective strategies to prevent falls and mobility problems among older people is therefore an urgent public health challenge. StandingTall is a low-cost, unsupervised, home-based balance exercise programme delivered through a computer or tablet. StandingTall has a simple user-interface that incorporates physical and behavioural elements designed to promote compliance. A large randomised controlled trial in 503 community-dwelling older people has shown that StandingTall is safe, has high adherence rates and is effective in improving balance and reducing falls. The current project targets a major need for older people and will address the final steps needed to scale this innovative technology for widespread use by older people across Australia and internationally.Methods and analysisThis project will endeavour to recruit 300 participants across three sites in Australia and 100 participants in the UK. The aim of the study is to evaluate the implementation of StandingTall into the community and health service settings in Australia and the UK. The nested process evaluation will use both quantitative and qualitative methods to explore uptake and acceptability of the StandingTall programme and associated resources. The primary outcome is participant adherence to the StandingTall programme over 6 months.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been obtained from the South East Sydney Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC reference 18/288) in Australia and the North West- Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee (IRAS ID: 268954) in the UK. Dissemination will be via publications, conferences, newsletter articles, social media, talks to clinicians and consumers and meetings with health departments/managers.Trial registration numberACTRN12619001329156.

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