Anti-Corruption NGOs as Think Tanks

While anti-corruption scholars have analyzed and explained theoretically citizen-based anti- corruption approaches, studies on one of the most important aspects of a leading anti-corruption non-governmental organization (NGO) has been limited: the role of Transparency International (TI), in particular national branches of TI, as a think tank. Drawing on data from an interview with a former head of TI in the UK (TI-UK), this study will conduct a preliminary review and analysis of the effects of TI-UK in anti-corruption policymaking. The analysis shows that TI-UK was not only involved in the drafting of legislation but also had an impact on the outcomes during the legislation and initial implementation processes. This study is expected to contribute to understandings of anti-corruption policymaking processes and development of theories and practices of anti-corruption reforms.

Awareness of alcohol marketing one year after initial implementation of Ireland’s Public Health (Alcohol) Act and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background The Republic of Ireland is introducing new controls on alcohol marketing, starting in November 2019 with restrictions on some outdoor and cinema advertising, and a ban on public transport advertising. We examined changes in marketing awareness one year after initial implementation and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Repeat online cross-sectional surveys with adults in Ireland conducted October 2019 (n = 1,007) and October 2020 (n = 1,020). Participants self-reported past-month awareness of alcohol marketing and completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Concise (AUDIT-C). Current drinkers were categorised as those reporting heavy episodic drinking at least monthly and higher-risk drinkers (≥5 AUDIT-C). Results In both waves, most participants recalled some marketing awareness (94.1% vs. 93.8%). For 9/13 activities measured in both waves, there were decreases in the proportion reporting any awareness and frequency of awareness, including for the newly restricted activities. For example, any awareness of public transport advertising decreased between waves (ORAdj = 0.66, 95%CI: 0.53–0.81). In both waves, higher past-month awareness was associated with at least monthly heavy episodic drinking and higher-risk consumption. Conclusion We recommend a precautionary interpretation. It is plausible that both Ireland’s initial controls and COVID-19 restrictions contributed to decreases in awareness, but longer-term evaluation is required to determine relative contribution.

Evaluation of interprofessional teamwork modules implementation in an emergency department – A mixed-methods case study of implementation fidelity

Background The need for interprofessional collaboration has been emphasized by health organizations. This study was part of a mixed-methods evaluation of interprofessional teamwork modules implementation in an emergency department (ED), where a major intervention was didactic training of team roles and behaviours in combination with practice scenarios. The aim of the study was to evaluate the implementation of interprofessional teamwork modules from a staff perspective and focus on how implementation fidelity may be sustained. Methods In this mixed-methods case study we triangulated staff data from structured observations, semi-structured interviews, and a questionnaire repeated at intervals over 5 years. A protocol of key team behaviours was used for the observations conducted in June 2016 and June 2018, 1½ and 3½ years after the initial implementation. A purposeful sample of central informants, including nursing and medical professionals and section managers, was interviewed from May to June 2018. The interview guide consisted of open-ended questions about the experiences of interprofessional teamwork modules and the implementation process. The questionnaire consisted of five statements about the perceived workload, interprofessional collaboration and patient satisfaction, where each was rated on a Likert scale. Results Good fidelity to four out of five key team behaviours was observed during the first year. However, fidelity was sustained only for one key team behaviour after 3 years. We conducted a qualitative content analysis of 18 individual interviews. The theme Enjoying working together, but feeling less efficient emerged of the interprofessional teamwork modules, despite shorter ED stays for the patients. Negative experiences of the staff included passive team leaders and slow care teams. The theme Stimulating to create, but challenging to sustain emerged of the implementation process, where barriers were not adressed and implementation fidelity not sustained. The staff questionnaire showed that the perceived work conditions was improved in periods of high fidelity, but deteriorated to pre-implementation levels as fidelity to the key team behaviours decayed in 2018. Conclusions Extensive planning and successful initial implementation were not enough to sustain the key behaviour changes in the study. The use of implementation frameworks can be helpful in future projects.

Atividades online extra-classes como forma de auto-monitoramento do aprendizado no ensino de física com alunos ingressantes do curso de engenharia: Uso das ferramentas do open-lms (questionário e H5P)

RESUMO Este trabalho apresenta os resultados de uma pesquisa de aplicação da ferramenta questionário do Open LMS e de alguns recursos do h5p na disciplina Física 1 de um curso de Engenharia. Neste trabalho se realiza uma comparação entre o uso da ferramenta questionário nos anos letivos 2014 e 2021, essa ferramenta tem sido utilizada como suporte às aulas com o objetivo de incentivar os estudantes a se aproximarem da disciplina em atividades extraclasse. Os dados foram coletados a partir de duas fontes, uma delas foi através dos dados de controle de acesso e resposta que o próprio Open LMS fornece. A outra foi um questionário sobre a avaliação do uso do questionário que foi respondido pelos estudantes ao final do semestre letivo de 2014. Os resultados mostram a boa aceitação da ferramenta questionário, que é apontada como elemento de apoio ao estudo. A implementação inicial dos conteúdos h5p em uma análise preliminar também se mostrou satisfatória, com participação expressiva dos estudantes. ABSTRACT This work presents the results of an application of questionnaire tool from Open LMS some resources of h5p, in the discipline Physics 1 of an engineering course. In this work a comparison between the use of the questionnaire tool by the students of the years 2014 and 2021, this tool has been used as a support to the classes in order to incentive the students to get closer to the discipline in extra class activities. The data were collected based on two sources: one used the data of access control and answers that Open LMS provides. The other one was an evaluation questionnaire about the usage of the Open LMS questionnaire tool that was answered by the students at the end of the first semester in 2014. The results showed the good acceptance of this tool, that it is pointed out as an element to support for studying by the students. The initial implementation of h5p resources in a preliminary analysis was shown to be satisfactory, with significant participation of students.

Dip Degreasing Stage Improvement in Car Body Pretreatment Process by Six Sigma

An automobile company in this research faced the consistency problem from the chemical concentration in degreasing bath which was one of the stages in the pretreatment process. The problem came from the proportion of total alkaline (T.Al) lower than the lower control limit (LCL) which was set at 18.2 points during February – May 2020. This resulted in the low values of Cp and Cpk, i.e. 0.83 and 0.51, respectively. To remedy the problem, Six Sigma (DMAIC) was applied to improve the process stability. The cause and effect matrix was used to analyse the potential causes of problems and prioritise the causes to solve. It was found that four (causes) factors were solved by auto titration and feeding controller installation to reduce variance and increase stability. Another one factor, quality of water, was improved by adding a check item to monitor and collect data during the initial implementation stage. The result after improvement showed that Cp and Cpk were increased to 1.82 and 1.52 in August 2020, respectively.

Time for Action: A Case for Mental Health Advocacy in Kerala, India

Mental health continues to be one of the most neglected areas of public service in India, even in its most developed states like Kerala. Advocacy services in mental health are also inadequate in availability to those in need. This call to action paper argues for a collaborative advocacy-through-action model of mental health advocacy for Kerala, with people’s participation as an important component. Kerala is chosen as the candidate for such a model because of its successful experience in implementing participatory development programmes. The proposed advocacy model can be extended to the whole country based on the feedback received from its initial implementation