Therapeutic recreation at camp: A Delphi study identifying important elements

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
W. Thomas Means, MS, CTRS ◽  
Steven Simpson, PhD

For many individuals with disabilities, specialized camps offer intentional recreational activities designed to meet specific goals. The purpose of this study was to identify the most important elements of Therapeutic Recreation (TR) when applied to residential summer camps for individuals with disabilities. This study used a panel of experts using a Delphi approach. Experts initially identified 29 elements and in subsequent rounds provided ratings and definitions of each element. Statistical analysis identified nine elements as most important: Planning, Evaluation, Socialization, Implementation, Staff Qualifications & Competency Assessment, Management, Prevention, Safety Planning, & Risk Management, Program Evaluation & Research, Quality Improvement. Identifying key elements is critical in developing a framework for future research, as well as justifying TR service and prioritizing which elements should be considered when creating a TR camp program.

2021 ◽  
pp. 016555152199275
Author(s):  
David Haynes ◽  
Lyn Robinson

A two-round Delphi study was conducted to explore priorities for addressing online risk to individuals. A corpus of literature was created based on 69 peer-reviewed articles about privacy risk and the privacy calculus published between 2014 and 2019. A cluster analysis of the resulting text-base using Pearson’s correlation coefficient resulted in seven broad topics. After two rounds of the Delphi survey with experts in information security and information literacy, the following topics were identified as priorities for further investigation: personalisation versus privacy, responsibility for privacy on social networks, measuring privacy risk, and perceptions of powerlessness and the resulting apathy. The Delphi approach provided clear conclusions about research topics and has potential as a tool for prioritising future research areas.


Author(s):  
Simon P. Mooijaart ◽  
Christian H. Nickel ◽  
Simon P. Conroy ◽  
Jacinta A. Lucke ◽  
Lisa S. van Tol ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Geriatric Emergency Medicine (GEM) focuses on delivering optimal care to (sub)acutely ill older people. This involves a multidisciplinary approach throughout the whole healthcare chain. However, the underpinning evidence base is weak and it is unclear which research questions have the highest priority. The aim of this study was to provide an inventory and prioritisation of research questions among GEM professionals throughout Europe. Methods A two-stage modified Delphi approach was used. In stage 1, an online survey was administered to various professionals working in GEM both in the Emergency Department (ED) and other healthcare settings throughout Europe to make an inventory of potential research questions. In the processing phase, research questions were screened, categorised, and validated by an expert panel. Subsequently, in stage 2, remaining research questions were ranked based on relevance using a second online survey administered to the same target population, to identify the top 10 prioritised research questions. Results In response to the first survey, 145 respondents submitted 233 potential research questions. A total of 61 research questions were included in the second stage, which was completed by 176 respondents. The question with the highest priority was: Is implementation of elements of CGA (comprehensive geriatric assessment), such as screening for frailty and geriatric interventions, effective in improving outcomes for older patients in the ED? Conclusion This study presents a top 10 of high-priority research questions for a European Research Agenda for Geriatric Emergency Medicine. The list of research questions may serve as guidance for researchers, policymakers and funding bodies in prioritising future research projects.


Author(s):  
Claudio Jommi ◽  
Patrizio Armeni ◽  
Arianna Bertolani ◽  
Francesco Costa ◽  
Monica Otto

Introduction: Dedicated Funds for Innovative Medicines were introduced in 2017 for cancer and non-cancer drugs in Italy. After three years, their impact on patient access to the relevant treatments and critical issues about their management has been poorly investigated. Aims and scope. This paper aims at bridging the literature gap and providing possible reforms scenarios. Methods: Our analysis relied on a qualitative approach. The personal opinions of twelve Italian experts coming from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Scientific Committee of the Italian Medicines Agency, the Regions and Patient Associations, the Oncologists’ Scientific Societies and Hospital Pharmacists were elicited through a Delphi approach. A consensus on final recommendations was reached in two rounds. Results: Experts were in favour of maintaining dedicated Funds for Innovative Medicines and had a distinct preference for a single Fund. Most of them suggested to extend access to Funds to more than three years, if, for the relevant indication, there are no alternatives to the innovative drug and provided that this does not represent a barrier to new entries. Responders advocated for Funds being covered by on top resources and the production of more evidence on their impact. They finally claimed a speeder flow of information to the regions on expenditure for innovative treatments and an enhancement of controls on prescribing behaviour, to avoid prescriptions be dependent on Funds capacity. Conclusions: The consensus document provides for eight recommendations that could be taken into account for possible reforms and future research on this topic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maliheh Hadizadeh ◽  
Greg Kawchuk ◽  
Simon French

Abstract Background Spinal stiffness assessment has the potential to become an important clinical measure. Various spinal stiffness-testing devices are available to help researchers objectively evaluate the spine and patient complaints. One of these is VerteTrack, a device capable of measuring posteroanterior displacement values over an entire spinal region. This study aimed to develop a best-practice protocol for evaluating spinal stiffness in human participants using VerteTrack. Methods Twenty-five individuals with research experience in measuring spinal stiffness, or who were trained in spinal stiffness measurement using the VerteTrack device, were invited to participate in this 3-Round Delphi study. Answers to open-ended questions in Round 1 were thematically analyzed and translated into statements about VerteTrack operation for spinal stiffness measurements. Participants then rated their level of agreement with these statements using a 5-point Likert scale in Rounds 2 and 3. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Consensus was achieved when at least 70% of the participants either strongly agreed, agreed, (or strongly disagreed, disagreed) to include a statement in the final protocol. Results Twenty participants completed Round 1 (80%). All these participants completed Rounds 2 and 3. In total, the pre-defined consensus threshold was reached for 67.2% (123/183) of statements after three rounds of surveys. From this, a best-practice protocol was created. Conclusions Using a Delphi approach, a consensus-based protocol for measuring spinal stiffness using the VerteTrack was developed. This standard protocol will help to improve the accuracy, efficiency, and safety of spinal stiffness measurements, facilitate the training of new operators, increase consistency of these measurements in multicenter studies, and provide the synergy and potential for data comparison between spine studies internationally. Although specific to VerteTrack, the resulting standard protocol could be modified for use with other devices designed to collect spinal stiffness measures.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Pontifex ◽  
Caris Savin ◽  
Caitlin Park ◽  
Alina Filipe Nunes ◽  
K Jane Chalmers ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective Persistent pelvic pain is a complex condition often influenced by psychological factors that can alter treatment outcomes. These factors are potentially modifiable; however, currently there is no instrument to screen for them in these individuals. The purpose of this study was to determine (1) which psychological factors should be screened in individuals with persistent pelvic pain and (2) the most appropriate statements to represent these psychological factors. Methods The study used a focus group design followed by an electronic-Delphi (e-Delphi) process. A focus group consisting of 8 experts was conducted to determine the relevant psychological factors to screen. These results informed round 1 of the e-Delphi process, consisting of a panel of 14 pain/pelvic pain experts. The e-Delphi process consisted of 3 rounds of online surveys and 2 teleconference discussions to establish consensus on the most appropriate statement to screen for each of the psychological factors. Results The focus group identified 13 relevant psychological factors. During the e-Delphi process, relevant screening statements were assessed using a 100-point allocation system. Experts could reword and suggest new statements. Statements were assessed for consensus and stability and were eliminated as the rounds progressed if they met the exclusion criteria. At the termination of round 3, there were 15 statements remaining. Conclusions The final list of 15 statements will assist clinicians in screening for psychological factors and is an important step for clinicians in providing psychologically informed care to people with persistent pelvic pain. Future research should determine the psychometric properties of the statements to determine their clinical utility as a questionnaire. Impact This study has refined a list of statements to help screen for psychological factors in individuals with persistent pelvic pain. Developed robustly using an e-Delphi method, this list is an important first step forward for clinicians to provide psychologically informed care to these individuals.


Author(s):  
Joshua P. Taylor ◽  
Holly N. Whittenburg ◽  
Magen Rooney-Kron ◽  
Tonya Gokita ◽  
Stephanie J. Lau ◽  
...  

Many youth with disabilities experience persistently low rates of competitive integrated employment (CIE) and participation in higher education. In 2014, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) established a policy focus on CIE as the goal of vocational services for youth and individuals with disabilities. In addition, WIOA created provision for Pre–Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to ensure that state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies focused sufficient resources toward transition-age youth. This study examined a sample of WIOA State Implementation Plans in depth using content analysis to identify how state VR agencies prioritized the provision of Pre-ETS services to youth with disabilities. Analysis of state plans resulted in three emergent themes: (a) instructional priorities, (b) instructional contexts, and (c) networks of stakeholders. We discuss the implications of these themes for future research, policy, and practice related to the employment of individuals with disabilities.


2000 ◽  
Vol 124 (5) ◽  
pp. 672-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce A. Jones ◽  
Diane D. Davey

Abstract Objective.—To describe a comprehensive integrated laboratory quality management plan for gynecologic cytology. Design and Setting.—Cytopathology laboratory performance monitors with interlaboratory comparison. Results.—Utilizing College of American Pathologists Q-Probes studies, the College of American Pathologists Interlaboratory Comparison Program in Cervicovaginal Cytology, and other published data, a quality management program for gynecologic cytology involving diagnostic statistics, screening limits and competency assessment, retrospective rescreening, real-time rescreening, cytology-biopsy correlation, follow-up of patients with abnormal cytology results, turnaround time, examination of unknown slides (survey programs), and new technology is described. Conclusion.—Regular coordinated monitoring of performance, with longitudinal and interlaboratory comparison utilizing the methods described, provides an opportunity to optimize gynecologic cytology service.


Author(s):  
Mohamed ElSeify ◽  
Sylvain Cornu ◽  
Raymond Karé ◽  
Ali Fathi ◽  
John Richmond

Abstract Axial strain inspection using the AXISS™ is an established tool in the pipeline operator’s toolbox to assess pipeline geotechnical threats and other strain related events. Consequently, there is a large database of axial strain data for several different pipelines operating in different environments and from multiple inspections at the same geographical locations. The Cheecham slope, located south east of Fort McMurray, Alberta, is a known geohazard site crossed by six individual pipelines. The lines were constructed between 1999 and 2013 and have a size range of 10” to 36”. Five out of the six lines, 12” to 36”, have been inspected using the axial strain tool. The pipelines inspected cover a range of characteristics including, different vintages, pipe diameters and positions in the ROW. These differences, and the ILI runs provide an insight into the effect of a landslide event on the strain response of these pipelines. Axial strain measurement of the multiple pipelines in the Cheecham slope’s ROW allows: i) a direct comparison between lines ii) evaluation of the strain profile across the slope iii) assessment of the magnitude of the axial strain in terms of pipe characteristics e.g. pipe vintage and mechanical properties. More importantly, the axial strain data may provide an additional tool to assess the effectiveness of strain mitigation steps carried out over the years. An increase in the frequency of axial strain ILI runs resulted in additional data being available and more importantly data from run to run inspections spread over months or sometime years. A single run captures the strain at the time of inspection but run to run inspections provide an additional comparative tool to evaluate and monitor pipeline movement. Two out of the five lines inspected have run to run axial strain data. This paper takes the Cheecham slope as a case study to discuss the benefits of run comparison of ILI axial strain data either by comparing strain values of repeated runs for a single line or by the cross comparison of strain responses of different lines in the same ROW. The paper aims to demonstrate how run to run analysis of ILI axial strain data can be implemented as part of geohazard risk management program to asses strain risk profiles of these locations and to assess the effectiveness of strain mitigation programs previously undertaken by operators.


Author(s):  
Ruslan Skrynkovskyy ◽  
◽  
Oleh Kramar ◽  
Khrystyna Zamula ◽  
Vasyl Khmyz ◽  
...  

The article reveals the features of accounting and analytical support for entrepreneurial risk management. It was found that entrepreneurial risk is a certain act as a result of which the business entity may suffer losses. It is proved that entrepreneurial risks should be classified according to the specifics of origin, the specifics of the legal settlement, the specifics of industry affiliation, the specifics of the consequences, the specifics of the duration of the impact of entrepreneurial risk, the specifics of the expression of will, the specifics of the form, the specifics of the level of typicality, the specifics of the level of validity, the specifics of the possibility of assessing and resolving the impact, the specifics of the possibility of insuring entrepreneurial risks, the specifics of the occurrence of entrepreneurial risks by sources of origin, the specifics of the scale of the impact, the specifics of the level of losses and the specifics of character. It is established that the process of entrepreneurial risk management is the process of managing the activities of the business entity as a whole and its individual parts, and takes into account the management of not only existing risks but also potential entrepreneurial risks in space and time, that may occur in the future during entrepreneurial activities. It is determined that the process of entrepreneurial risk management should take into account the stage of preparation and implementation of appropriate measures to reduce the risk as a result of making erroneous decisions by business entities, the stage of reducing the impact of possible negative consequences that may occur, especially, if the entity operates in unexpected changes and alarming development trends, as well the stage of development and implementation of the Declaration on Risk Management and the Risk Management Program. It is established that the important information on which it is possible to estimate possibility of occurrence of entrepreneurial risks, is the accounting reporting. In the perspective of further research, it is recommended to study entrepreneurial risks in Ukraine in the context of such aspects as causes, consequences and management.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document