scholarly journals Reliability assessment of pre -post test questionnaire on the impact of a daylong clinical pharmacology workshop among medical professionals

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 93-97
Author(s):  
Arunava Biswas ◽  
Sukanta Sen ◽  
Krishnangshu Ray
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Pharmacology ◽  
Reliability Assessment ◽  
Learning Objectives ◽  
Eastern India ◽  
Data Collection Tool ◽  
Clinical Practices ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Post Test ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Posttest Questionnaire

Background: Pretest-posttest questionnaire are often used during workshop to assess the impact of a program on the participants. However, the reliability of such data collection ‘tool’ is not often judged. There is lack of evidence supporting the authentication of such research instrument. Aims and Objective: This study was conducted to assess the reliability of prepost test questionnaire comprising MCQs, on participants attending a one-day workshop on clinical pharmacology at a teaching hospital in eastern India. Materials and Methods: Pre and post test questionnaire comprising 15 MCQs covering different aspects of ‘Good Clinical Practices’ on which several presentations were later delivered by experts were distributed to (n=42) participants in a one-day oriented workshop within stipulated time period and their feedback were collected and statistically analyzed after the workshop was over. Results: The average number of MCQs attempted in the pretest questionnaire was 12.42 and in posttest were 14.44 by the participants. The workshop participants increased their percentage of correct answer score from an average of 48.4 in pretest to a statistically significant 88.73 in posttest (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Pre/post questionnaire could be effective and reliable tools in meeting stipulated learning objectives and help in assessing the aftermath of an educational program.

Implicit and explicit corrective feedback and feedback exposure conditions

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-48
Author(s):  
Takehiro Iizuka ◽  
Kimi Nakatsukasa
Keyword(s):  
Explicit Knowledge ◽  
Corrective Feedback ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Oral Corrective Feedback ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Picture Description ◽  
Potential Factors ◽  
Implicit And Explicit ◽  
Instructional Settings ◽  
The Impact

This exploratory study examined the impact of implicit and explicit oral corrective feedback (CF) on the development of implicit and explicit knowledge of Japanese locative particles (activity de, movement ni and location ni) for those who directly received CF and those who observed CF in the classroom. Thirty-six college students in a beginning Japanese language course received either recast (implicit), metalinguistic (explicit) or no feedback during an information-gap picture description activity, and completed a timed picture description test (implicit knowledge) and an untimed grammaticality judgement test (explicit knowledge) in a pre-test, immediate post-test and delayed post-test. The results showed that overall there was no significant difference between CF types, and that CF benefited direct and indirect recipients similarly. Potential factors that might influence the effectiveness of CF, such as instructional settings, complexity of target structures and pedagogy styles, are discussed.

Epigenetic Studies in Psychotherapy: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-92
Author(s):  
Rafael Penadés ◽  
Bárbara Arias ◽  
Mar Fatjó-Vilas ◽  
Laura González-Vallespí ◽  
Clemente García-Rizo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Epigenetic Modifications ◽  
Symptom Improvement ◽  
Epigenetic Changes ◽  
Main Hypothesis ◽  
Psychological Treatments ◽  
Time Period ◽  
The Impact

Background: Epigenetic modifications appear to be dynamic and they might be affected by environmental factors. The possibility of influencing these processes through psychotherapy has been suggested. Objective: To analyse the impact of psychotherapy on epigenetics when applied to mental disorders. The main hypothesis is that psychological treatments will produce epigenetic modifications related to the improvement of treated symptoms. Methods: A computerised and systematic search was completed throughout the time period from 1990 to 2019 on the PubMed, ScienceDirect and Scopus databases. Results: In total, 11 studies were selected. The studies were evaluated for the theoretical framework, genes involved, type of psychotherapy and clinical challenges and perspectives. All studies showed detectable changes at the epigenetic level, like DNA methylation changes, associated with symptom improvement after psychotherapy. Conclusion: Methylation profiles could be moderating treatment effects of psychotherapy. Beyond the detected epigenetic changes after psychotherapy, the epigenetic status before the implementation could act as an effective predictor of response.

scholarly journals Development of the Circular Bioeconomy: Drivers and Indicators

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 413
Author(s):  
Maximilian Kardung ◽  
Kutay Cingiz ◽  
Ortwin Costenoble ◽  
Roel Delahaye ◽  
Wim Heijman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Conceptual Analysis ◽  
Green Economy ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
Analysis Framework ◽  
Stakeholder Consultation ◽  
Time Period ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

The EU’s 2018 Bioeconomy Strategy Update and the European Green Deal recently confirmed that the bioeconomy is high on the political agenda in Europe. Here, we propose a conceptual analysis framework for quantifying and analyzing the development of the EU bioeconomy. The bioeconomy has several related concepts (e.g., bio-based economy, green economy, and circular economy) and there are clear synergies between these concepts, especially between the bioeconomy and circular economy concepts. Analyzing the driving factors provides important information for monitoring activities. We first derive the scope of the bioeconomy framework in terms of bioeconomy sectors and products to be involved, the needed geographical coverage and resolution, and time period. Furthermore, we outline a set of indicators linked to the objectives of the EU’s bioeconomy strategy. In our framework, measuring developments will, in particular, focus on the bio-based sectors within the bioeconomy as biomass and food production is already monitored. The selected indicators commit to the EU Bioeconomy Strategy objectives and conform with findings from previous studies and stakeholder consultation. Additionally, several new indicators have been suggested and they are related to measuring the impact of changes in supply, demand drivers, resource availability, and policies on sustainability goals.

scholarly journals The impact of integrating environmental health into medical school curricula: a survey-based study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Kligler ◽  
Genevieve Pinto Zipp ◽  
Carmela Rocchetti ◽  
Michelle Secic ◽  
Erin Speiser Ihde
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Medical School ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
Learning Objectives ◽  
Lead Contamination ◽  
Institute Of Medicine ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Inclusion of environmental health (EH) in medical education serves as a catalyst for preparing future physicians to address issues as complex as climate change and health, water pollution and lead contamination. However, previous research has found EH education to be largely lacking in U.S. medical education, putting future physicians at risk of not having the expertise to address patients’ environmental illnesses, nor speak to prevention. Methods Environmental health (EH) knowledge and skills were incorporated into the first-year medical school curriculum at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine (Nutley, New Jersey), via a two-hour interactive large group learning module with follow up activities. Students completed the Environmental Health in Med School (EHMS) survey before and after the year 1 EH module. This survey evaluates medical students’ attitudes, awareness and professionalism regarding environmental health. In year 2, students completed the Environmental Health Survey II, which measured students’ perceptions of preparedness to discuss EH with future patients. The research team created both surveys based upon learning objectives that broadly aligned with the Institute of Medicine six competency-based environmental health learning objectives. Results 36 year 1 students completed both the pre and post EHMS surveys. McNemar’s test was used for paired comparisons. Results identified no statistically significant changes from pre to post surveys, identifying a dramatic ceiling. When comparing year 2, EHS II pre-survey (n = 84) and post-survey (n = 79) responses, a statistically significant positive change in students’ self-reported sense of preparedness to discuss environmental health with their patients following the curriculum intervention was noted. Conclusions Our conclusion for the EHMS in Year 1 was that the current generation of medical students at this school is already extremely aware of and concerned about the impact of environmental issues on health. Through the EHS II in Year 2, we found that the six-week environmental health module combining didactic and experiential elements significantly increased medical students’ self-reported sense of preparedness to discuss environmental health issues, including climate change, with their patients.

scholarly journals The Value of Vaccination in Older Adults: The Why

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 806-807
Author(s):  
Philip Buck
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Time Horizon ◽  
Pneumococcal Disease ◽  
Population Aging ◽  
Indirect Costs ◽  
Health Behavior Change ◽  
Vaccine Preventable Diseases ◽  
Time Period ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases remains high among older adults in the US, despite longstanding immunization recommendations, and is projected to increase as the population ages. The impact of US population aging on the burden of four vaccine-preventable diseases (influenza, pneumococcal disease, shingles, and pertussis) was modeled over a 30-year time horizon, with cumulative direct and indirect costs increasing from $378 billion over 10 years to $1.28 trillion over 30 years. Compared to current levels of vaccination coverage, increasing coverage was predicted to avert over 33 million cases of disease and greater than $96 billion in disease-associated costs, with a corresponding increase in vaccination costs of approximately $83 billion over the entire 30-year time period. Specific examples of cost-effectiveness analyses that assess the epidemiologic and economic impact of vaccination against shingles and pertussis in older adults will be discussed. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Health Behavior Change Interest Group.

An Analysis of Procedural Medicare Reimbursement Rates in Hand Surgery: 2000 to 2019

Hand ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 155894472199080
Author(s):  
Danielle A Thornburg ◽  
Nikita Gupta ◽  
Nathan Chow ◽  
Jack Haglin ◽  
Shelley Noland
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Price Index ◽  
Hand Surgery ◽  
The United States ◽  
Medicare Reimbursement ◽  
Reimbursement Rate ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
Fee Schedule ◽  
Procedure Codes ◽  
The Impact

Background: Medicare reimbursement trends across multiple surgical subspecialties have been analyzed; however, little has been reported regarding the long-term trends in reimbursement of hand surgery procedures. The aim of this study is to analyze trends in Medicare reimbursement for commonly performed hand surgeries. Methods: Using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Physician and Other Supplier Public Use File, we determined the 20 hand surgery procedure codes most commonly billed to Medicare in 2016. Reimbursement rates were collected and analyzed for each code from The Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool for years 2000 to 2019. We compared the change in reimbursement rate for each procedure to the rate of inflation in US dollars, using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) over the same time period. Results: The reimbursement rate for each procedure increased on average by 13.9% during the study period while the United States CPI increased significantly more by 46.7% ( P < .0001). When all reimbursement data were adjusted for inflation to 2019 dollars, the average reimbursement for all included procedures in this study decreased by 22.6% from 2000 to 2019. The average adjusted reimbursement rate for all procedures decreased by 21.92% from 2000 to 2009 and decreased by 0.86% on average from 2009 to 2019 ( P < .0001). Conclusion: When adjusted for inflation, Medicare reimbursement for hand surgery has steadily decreased over the past 20 years. It will be important to consider the implications of these trends when evaluating healthcare policies and the impact this has on access to hand surgery.

Labour-use Efficiency of Assam Gramin Vikash Bank: Branch- and District-level Analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 232102222110243
Author(s):  
Mohuya Deb Purkayastha ◽  
Joyeeta Deb ◽  
Ram Pratap Sinha
Keyword(s):  
Efficiency Score ◽  
Significant Variable ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Tobit Regression ◽  
Second Stage ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Observation Period

The present study estimated labour-use efficiency of 48 branches of Assam Gramin Vikash Bank at its branch level, covering three districts of Barak Valley, which falls under Silchar region of the bank for the time period from 2010–2011 to 2017–2018. The study applied data envelopment analysis for estimating labour-use efficiency. In the second stage, the study applied censored Tobit regression for determining the impact of several contextual variables on efficiency. The study reveals that the mean labour-use efficiency score of the selected branches is 76% when averaged for the in-sample branches over the observation period. Results of the Tobit regression identified cluster 2 and total business of the branches as the significant factors for determining efficiency and the number of employees as a significant variable influencing inefficiency. JEL Classifications: G2, G20, G21, J3

scholarly journals Imaging NAD(H) Redox Alterations in Cryopreserved Alveolar Macrophages from Ozone-Exposed Mice and the Impact of Nutrient Starvation during Long Lag Times

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 767
Author(s):  
He N. Xu ◽  
Joanna Floros ◽  
Lin Z. Li ◽  
Shaili Amatya
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Alveolar Macrophages ◽  
Redox State ◽  
Redox Status ◽  
Nutrient Starvation ◽  
Ozone Exposure ◽  
Reduced Form ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Lag Times ◽  
The Impact

Employing the optical redox imaging technique, we previously identified a significant redox shift of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD and the reduced form NADH) in freshly isolated alveolar macrophages (AM) from ozone-exposed mice. The goal here was twofold: (a) to determine the NAD(H) redox shift in cryopreserved AM isolated from ozone-exposed mice and (b) to investigate whether there is a difference in the redox status between cryopreserved and freshly isolated AM. We found: (i) AM from ozone-exposed mice were in a more oxidized redox state compared to that from filtered air (FA)-exposed mice, consistent with the results obtained from freshly isolated mouse AM; (ii) under FA exposure, there was no significant NAD(H) redox difference between fresh AM that had been placed on ice for 2.5 h and cryopreserved AM; however, under ozone exposure, fresh AM were more oxidized than cryopreserved AM; (iii) via the use of nutrient starvation and replenishment and H2O2-induced oxidative stress of an AM cell line, we showed that this redox difference between cryopreserved and freshly isolated AM is likely the result of the double “hit”, i.e., the ozone-induced oxidative stress plus nutrient starvation that prevented freshly isolated AM from a full recovery after being on ice for a prolonged time period. The cryopreservation technique we developed eliminates/minimizes the effects of oxidative stress and nutrient starvation on cells. This method can be adopted to preserve lung macrophages from animal models or clinical patients for further investigations.

Revisiting rating scale development for rater-mediated language performance assessments: Modelling construct and contextual choices made by scale developers

2021 ◽  
pp. 026553222199405
Author(s):  
Ute Knoch ◽  
Bart Deygers ◽  
Apichat Khamboonruang
Keyword(s):  
Scale Development ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Language Assessment ◽  
Performance Assessments ◽  
Language Performance ◽  
Scale Development And Validation ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Development And Validation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Different Sources

Rating scale development in the field of language assessment is often considered in dichotomous ways: It is assumed to be guided either by expert intuition or by drawing on performance data. Even though quite a few authors have argued that rating scale development is rarely so easily classifiable, this dyadic view has dominated language testing research for over a decade. In this paper we refine the dominant model of rating scale development by drawing on a corpus of 36 studies identified in a systematic review. We present a model showing the different sources of scale construct in the corpus. In the discussion, we argue that rating scale designers, just like test developers more broadly, need to start by determining the purpose of the test, the relevant policies that guide test development and score use, and the intended score use when considering the design choices available to them. These include considering the impact of such sources on the generalizability of the scores, the precision of the post-test predictions that can be made about test takers’ future performances and scoring reliability. The most important contributions of the model are that it gives rating scale developers a framework to consider prior to starting scale development and validation activities.

scholarly journals Sample Timing, Diagnosis of Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction and Mortality in Acute Myocardial Infarction: ThyrAMI1 Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. e1299-e1306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salman Razvi ◽  
Owain Leng ◽  
Avais Jabbar ◽  
Arjola Bano ◽  
Lorna Ingoe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Acute Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Thyroid Function ◽  
Thyroid Dysfunction ◽  
Reference Interval ◽  
Reference Ranges ◽  
Diagnosis And Prognosis ◽  
Time Period ◽  
All Cause Mortality ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to determine the impact of blood sample timing on the diagnosis of subclinical thyroid dysfunction (SCTD) and mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Patients, Design, and Main Outcome Measures Patients with AMI had thyroid function evaluated on admission between December 2014 and December 2016 and those with abnormal serum thyrotropin (TSH) had repeat thyroid function assessed at least a week later. The association between sample timing and SCTD was evaluated by logistic regression analysis. Secondary outcomes were confirmation of SCTD on repeat testing and all-cause mortality up to June 2018. Results Of the 1806 patients [29.2% women, mean (± standard deviation) age of 64.2 (±12.1) years] analyzed, the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) was 17.2% (n = 311) and subclinical hyperthyroidism (SHyper) was 1.2% (n = 22) using a uniform TSH reference interval. The risk of being diagnosed with SCTD varied by sample timing in fully-adjusted models. The risk of SCH was highest between 00.01 and 06.00 hours and lowest between 12.01 and 18.00 hours, P for trend &lt;.001, and risk of SHyper was highest between 12.01 hours and 18.00 hours and lowest between 00.01 hours and 06.00 hours. Furthermore, time of the initial sample was associated with the risk of remaining in a SCH state subsequently. Mortality in SCH patients was not elevated when a uniform TSH reference interval was utilized. However, when time period–specific TSH reference ranges were utilized, the mortality risk was significantly higher in SCH patients with HR (95% CI) of 2.26 (1.01–5.19), P = .04. Conclusions Sample timing impacts on the diagnosis and prognosis of SCH in AMI patients. If sample timing is not accounted for, SCH is systemically misclassified, and its measurable influence on mortality is lost.

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