Clinicians’ perceived value and demographic factors that predict the utilisation of patient reported outcome measures for low back pain amongst chiropractors in Australia

Background Factors that influence utilisation rates of patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) for low back pain (LBP) within the chiropractic profession of Australia are currently unknown. This study aimed to examine whether factors, including age, sex, experience level, clinical title (principal vs associate), or a clinicians’ perceived value of PROMs, are predictive of the frequency and/or type of PROMs used by chiropractors in the management of LBP. Methods A cross sectional online survey was distributed to members of the Chiropractic Association of Australia (CAA now known as Australian Chiropractors Association-ACA) and Chiropractic Australia (CA). 3,014 CAA members and 930 CA members were invited to participate totaling 3,944, only respondents that were using PROMs were included in the analysis (n = 370). Ordinal logistic regression was used to examine associations between clinician demographics and perceived value of PROMs, and the frequency of pain, health, and functional patient reported outcome measure (PROM) usage by chiropractors. Results Principal chiropractors were more likely (Wald = 4.101, p = 0.04, OR = 1.4 (1.0–2.1)) than associate chiropractors to frequently use pain-related PROMs for the management of patients with LBP. The remaining demographic factors (age, sex, and experience level) were not associated with the frequency of PROM usage; nor were the perceived value clinicians place on PROMs in clinical practice. Conclusion Principal chiropractors were more likely to frequently use pain-related PROMs for the management of patients with LBP when compared to associate chiropractors. Demographic factors, appear to have little influence on PROM usage. While chiropractors place high value on PROMs, these beliefs are not associated with increased frequency of PROM usage for the management of LBP.

Examining the Influence of University Teachers’ Qualification and Experience on Students’ Academic Achievement in Mathematics

Aims: This study aims to examine the effect of qualification and experience level on students’ academic achievement in mathematic in five colleges under the Royal University of Bhutan. Study Design: It is a quantitative study where the researcher tests the significance of the difference in the mean academic achievement of the students concerning teachers’ qualifications and experience level. Place and Duration of Study: Five colleges under the Royal University of Bhutan spread across five districts in Bhutan were considered for the study between July 2020 and July 2021. Methodology: A sample of 25 university mathematics teachers (21 males, 4 females) who taught mathematics from 2018 to 2020 were selected through a simple random sampling. The data was collected in two parts: one the mathematics marks of the modules taught by the 25 teachers from the year 2018 to 2020 was obtained from the respective college's exam records through an official correspondence; second, the information on the perception of these 25 teachers was obtained online through self-administered survey questionnaires. Results: The result from the two way ANOVA revealed no statistically significant difference between qualifications (Masters and PhD) on students’ academic achievement (F (1, 19) = 3.653, P = 0.07) and between experience levels on students’ academic achievement (F (3, 19) = 0.493, P = 0.69). In contrast, the perception of the teachers is that the higher level of qualifications and experience levels would have a more positive effect on students’ academic achievement. Conclusion: The qualification and experience have a positive effect on students academic achievement but the effects are not significant.

Surgeon Experience Level and Number of Mohs Stages: A Prospective Observational Study of In-training Surgeons

Background Comparisons of Mohs surgeons by experience level (early-, mid-, late-career) and their respective number of stages taken during Mohs have not detected any difference. However, data comparing the number of stages for attending Mohs surgeons to Mohs fellows is non-existent. Objective To prospectively observe and compare the mean number of Mohs stages taken for attending Mohs surgeons and fellows. Methods/Materials Procedural data from 2,140 Mohs cases over 24 months was collected and divided into an attending or fellow surgeon cohort. Results The attending cohort had a higher mean number of stages for all nonmelanoma skin cancer when compared to the fellow cohort (p=0.005). The attending cohort demonstrated a higher mean number of stages for non-aggressive, non-superficial basal cell carcinoma (p<0.001), but no difference was found for other cancer subtypes. No difference was detected when comparing the two cohorts’ performance at high, medium, and low risk surgical areas. Conclusion The attending cohort had a higher mean number of stages overall for combined types of skin cancer and for non-aggressive, non-superficial basal cell carcinoma specifically when stratified by diagnosis as compared to the fellow cohort. No difference existed in the mean number of stages between the cohorts based on surgical area.

Developing Musicianship through Chamber Ensembles: A Sequential Unit Design

Shifting school schedules, small class sizes, and unpredictable instrumentation resulting from the global pandemic necessitated a creative approach to teaching ensemble music classes this year. In response to that challenge, I constructed a curriculum for developing independent musicianship through chamber music. Part independence, self-evaluation, communication skills, and practice strategies were key focuses during the term. This sequential approach to introducing chamber music can be transferred beyond a “pandemic schedule” with any ensemble regardless of experience level or instrumentation.

Growing in MTS

Professional societies and the benefits they offer provide an environment for anyone to flourish at any point in their career. As an undergraduate student, they introduce members to scholarship opportunities, mentors, and a glimpse of what a world outside academia entails. Societies benefit graduate students by providing an environment to connect with others and share ideas as well as a place to present and further research. Students of all levels turn to societies to help launch their careers through internships and new job opportunities. As a young professional, these societies are heavily relied on for networking opportunities and finding mentors to help guide the new generation of workers through a constantly evolving workforce. As an experienced worker, professional societies offer a place to teach the new generation as well as learn from them. The Marine Technology Society has provided an environment that allows any individual, regardless of age, career, or experience level, to continuously grow professionally. Through conferences, networking events, camps, and more, MTS ensures anyone has the ability to continue learning at every point in their careers.

Effect of Operator Experience on Ability to Place Sequential, 2-mm-thick Increments of Composite

Because an operator has only about one chance out of three to place a composite increment within this clinically acceptable range, clinicians are advised to use an instrument (e.g., a periodontal probe with a 2-mm mark) to estimate the thickness of each increment of composite they place. SUMMARY Objective: To measure and compare the effect of operator experience in their ability to place composite in increments that are 2 mm thick. Methods and Materials: Fifteen volunteers from each class of freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and senior dental students and 15 clinical faculty (total number of volunteers = 75) were asked to restore a Class I preparation that was 5 mm in diameter and 8 mm deep from the cusp tips using three increments of composite that were each to be 2 mm thick. Once completed, the models were sectioned, and the thickness of each increment was measured. A repeated-measures analysis of variance (pre-set α=0.05) was used to compare the mean increment thickness with respect to operator experience level and increment sequence number. In addition, the proportion of operators placing clinically acceptable increments (between 1.75 and 2.25 mm thick), as well as the proportions from each group who placed increments that either were thinner or thicker than this range, was determined using nonparametric analyses. Results: Overall, there was an increasing trend for groups with a higher experience level to provide mean incremental thickness values close to 2 mm. However, the likelihood of placing an increment that was thicker or thinner than the manufacturer-recommended thickness was not significantly different. Regardless of the increment value, only about one-third of the increments placed fell within the desired range of 1.75 to 2.25 mm. Conclusions: Operator experience had no overwhelming significant influence on the ability to place increments of composite that were between 1.75 and 2.25 mm thick. An operator has only about one chance out of three to place a composite increment within this clinically acceptable range when using no external measurement system.

The Effect of Whistleblower Source and Tip Frame on Internal Auditors’ Judgments and Actions

The literature on assessments of whistleblower tips is limited and many unanswered questions exist. This study investigates the assessment of anonymous whistle blower tips by participants acting as internal auditors and the actions that ensue. Two-hundred sixteen participants rated the likelihood and seriousness of fraud and the investigative resources applied based upon a written script. Results suggest that the wording utilized by a tipster impacts fraud likelihood assessments which in turn impacts tip importance assessments. The source of the tip was not significant in either assessment. Fraud likelihood assessments and tip importance assessments influence the experience level of the personnel assigned to investigate the tip while tip importance also influences the hours assigned to investigate the tip. Finally, the frame of the tip has a significant indirect effect on the experience assigned and the hours assigned, mediated by fraud likelihood and tip importance assessments.

The Coaches’ Perceptions and Experience Implementing a Long-Term Athletic Development Model in Competitive Swimming

The aim of this study was to analyze the association between coaches’ experience and their perceptions on the implementation of a long-term athletic development (LTAD) model created in 2016 by the Portuguese Swimming Federation. Eighty-six swimming coaches were assembled in groups according to their experience level: “novice” (n = 24), “intermediate” (n = 26), and “experienced” (n = 36), and they answered a questionnaire with the following items: (i) awareness of the existing model (ii) acceptance (iii) usefulness for practice, and (iv) implementation of this model by their peers. Regardless of experience, ~67% of the coaches were aware of the model. Among those, a large number showed acceptance (~95%) and confidence in its usefulness (~83%) for their daily practice. Most coaches (92%) showed concerns about the fact that their peers do not respect the model frameworks, declaring the search for their swimmers’ immediate success (~58%) as the main cause for such behavior. The results also showed an association between experience and knowledge about the model’s existence [χ2 (2) = 10.223, p &lt; 0.01, V = 0.345], and experienced coaches exhibited better knowledge than their intermediate [χ2 (2) = 9.555, p &lt; 0.01, V = 0.393] or novice [χ2 (2) = 5.926, p = 0.02, V = 0.314] counterparts. While there was an association between the coaches’ experience and knowledge about the LTAD model’s existence, this situation does not seem to influence the way coaches accept and understand the usefulness of the model for their daily practice.