Interpretive structural model of trust factors in construction virtual project teams

Purpose Organisational dependence on virtual project teams (VPTs) is growing dramatically due to the substantial benefits they offer, such as efficiently achieving objectives and improving organisational performance. One of the major issues that influence the effectiveness of VPTs is trust building. This study aims to determine the key factors of trust in VPTs and design a model by identifying the interrelationships among the trust factors. Design/methodology/approach Focus group discussion was used to gather data on factors affecting trust in VPTs and their interrelationships. Interpretive structural modelling (ISM) was used to establish the relationship among the factors. Cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification analysis was conducted to identify the driving power and the dependence power towards effective VPTs in the construction sector. Findings The finding revealed that “characteristics of team members” (such as ability, integrity, benevolence, competence, reliability and professionalism) is the most significant factor for building trust in virtual team members. Some factors were further identified as having high driving power, while others were defined as having high dependence variables. Practical implications The findings will assist construction managers and practitioners dealing with VPTs identify the factors influencing trust among team members. Taking cognisance of the factors that influence trust will enable them to design more effective virtual team arrangements. Originality/value As the first research of its kind using ISM technique, the study offers insights into interrelationships between trust factors in the construction VPTs. It provides guides for construction managers on the effective management of trustworthy VPTs.

Are Our Genes Important for Cooperation?

Social cooperation is a state in which people work together on a shared activity from which they both benefit, and the success of each person is dependent on everyone doing their part. Imagine, for example, a basketball game in which all team members make a shared effort and cooperate to win the game. To study this kind of social cooperation in the lab, we used rats. We created a special maze in which two rats must coordinate their behavior as a pair, moving together through the sections of the maze. Using this maze, we found that a rat’s genes are more important than its environment in determining its level of social cooperation.

Debt Management Literacy and Financial Performance of Saccos in Kumi County – Kumi Uganda

This dissertation is presented on the topic, “Debt management literacy and financial performance of SACCOs in Kumi County”. The overall objective of the study was to determine the effect of Debt management literacy on financial performance of SACCOs in Kumi County and to achieve this the researcher used one specific objective Vinz; “To determine the effect of Debt management literacy on financial performance of SACCOs in Kumi County”. In carrying out the study, the researcher used a case study research design because of its ability to investigate the study variables in detail. The population under study was 150 (N) people and a sample population of 108 (n) people consisting of; SACCO board members, SACCO management team members and SACCO members. The sample size was determined by use of both probability and non-probability sampling techniques. In data collection, the researcher used a duo approach with the use of; Questionnaire survey method which allowed collection of firsthand information within a short period of time and interview method employed on some key informants i.e. SACCO Board members as this was intended to probe for more information, get clarification and capture facial expression. Two tools in this context were used i.e. Research Questionnaire and interview guide. The data collected was both quantitative and qualitative in nature. Data analysis was carried out in two fold; Quantitative data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 25*64 bit. Qualitative data was recorded in the researchers note book and transcribed for a clear meaning. The research findings highlighted a strong positive relationship between debt management literacy and financial performance of SACCOs with R = 0.666. The study confirmed that Debt management literacy explains 44.4% of financial performance as evident with R2= 0.444. The researcher based on the study findings recommended creation of awareness and corporative member education on debt management; Documentation and implementation of a comprehensive credit or debt management policy; There must be a clear line of authority as to who authorizes and approves what and creation of a policy on relationship management strategies so as to ensure long and lasting beneficial relationships with clients.

Doping Control in the Republic of Moldova: Specific Features

Recently, there has been a strong effort regarding all sports organizations in order to reduce the universality and frequency of doping in sport. However, the efficacy of current strategies to fight against doping might be improved by using anti-doping polices adjusted to the features of doping in each sport. Contemporary sports activity is regarded as a complex phenomenon that involves both physical components, as well as a variety of medical, legal or economic aspects. In recent times, sport worldwide is marked by severe discussions on doping and its effects. In this context, athletes and team members must know the facts that may empower violations of anti-doping legislation and regulations on the doping control procedure. The acquisition of these legal and medical rules will motivate the development of sports, with the effect of preventing risks represented by the doping phenomenon.

Endovascular Instead of Open Surgical Repair of Axillosubclavian Artery Injuries: An Evolving Paradigm Shift

Axillosubclavian injuries (ASI) comprise a small proportion of vascular injuries, yet their morbidity and mortality is high. This is often attributable to non-compressible bleeding in the apical thorax, hemodynamic instability, and the anatomically challenging location of these vessels making them difficult to access and control quickly. While the traditional management of ASI was with open surgical repair (OSR), recent years have seen an evolution towards less invasive endovascular repair (EVR). In patients with these injuries, EVR may be a safer alternative that achieves similar immediate results with significantly lower complication and mortality rates than the highly morbid open surgical option. In this article, we review and compare the two approaches, providing an overview of patient selection, anatomic considerations, techniques, postoperative management, and outcomes. With the advent of EVTM and more trauma team members capable of endovascular management of vascular trauma, a paradigm shift towards EVR for ASI is taking place.

Do we still need professional boundaries? The multiple influences of boundaries on interprofessional collaboration

Although a body of research suggests that interprofessional collaboration is hindered by the presence of professional boundaries, more recent work has demonstrated that removing these boundaries also has negative consequences for collaboration. To address these paradoxical findings, we examine two different team-level initiatives that aimed at softening and breaking down professional boundaries, drawing on data gathered from 78 in-depth interviews and two years of observations of four cross-occupational teams in the English National Health Service. Our inductive analysis of this data shows that professionals use boundaries and their manifestations —which become apparent through materialization, articulation, and embodiment— to identify and retrieve professional categories. The conspicuous presence of boundaries allows professionals to anticipate other team members’ expertise and roles, as well as different aspects of team tasks. We theorize our findings by showing how professional boundaries can be positively interlaced with interprofessional collaboration by making visible and grounding naturalized systems of classification.

Identification of the role of oral health educators in elementary schools during COVID-19 pandemic: a competency framework

Objective Oral health educators should have the required knowledge, skills and attitude in order to meet the increased needs of the Ministry of Education in Syria as well as to perform their duties in promoting oral health in children appropriately during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study was undertaken to identify core competencies required for oral health educators in elementary schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative exploratory study was undertaken. A focus group which consisted of 5 Medical Education postgraduates and 3 oral health educators’ training team members were invited to formulate a preliminary list of basic competencies. Delphi technique was also adopted through inviting 12 experts in oral health education to evaluate and formulate a final list of elementary schools’ oral health educators’ competencies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results A competency framework was developed. Fifty-five competencies were identified including 35 in cognitive domain, 12 skills and 8 attitude competencies. A list of essential competencies has been identified. These competencies should be addressed in training programs targeting oral health educators, which can consequently produce competent educators who can successfully promote and provide health care to all schoolchildren during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The neonatal transfer process through the lens of neonatologists at public hospitals in South Africa

Background: Neonatal care is provided by various levels of healthcare facilities in South Africa. Intensive care for neonates is only provided at the higher levels, hence the need for transfers from lower-level to higher-level facilities (e.g. primary hospitals to tertiary hospitals) or across levels of facilities, particularly when life-threatening situations arise (e.g. cardiac deterioration, respiratory deterioration and desaturation).Aim: The aim of the study was to explore neonatologists’ views regarding the neonatal transfer process and to describe the preparedness of advanced life support (ALS) paramedics to undertake such transfers.Setting: The setting consisted of neonatologists from three provinces i.e. KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Western cape.Method: A qualitative descriptive design was utilised in this study. Semistructured interviews were conducted on the public health hospitals in three provinces (N = 9; n = 3) with neonatologists (N = 7; n = 7) who were involved in the transfers of critically ill neonates. The process of thematic analysis was used.Results: The themes that emerged in this study were: an awareness of local contextual realities related to neonatal transfers, challenges evident within the context of neonatal transfers, decision-making around the transfer of ill neonates, ALS paramedic preparedness for transfers and good clinical governanceConclusion: The study found that there was a need to be aware of local contextual realities confronting neonatal transfers, a need for greater preparedness for paramedics to undertake these transfers, a need for a sound referral processes and a need for coordinated transfer effort between paramedics, hospital staff and transport team members for the successful transfer of critically ill neonates.Contribution: The findings highlight the challenges confronting the neonatal transfer process in South Africa through the lens of neonatologist at public hospitals. Hence, the study reinforces the preparedness and coordination of the transfer process, along with more efficient communication between paramedics, hospital staff and the transfer team.

Improving baseline serological investigations for dental workers at specialized dental center

Objective: Serological tests for dental workers have been suggested by different international agencies to ensure the safety of dental practitioners and, subsequently, their patients. In our organization, the percentage of dental workers who underwent serological tests was low (26%). Material and Methods: An intervention was designed using three sequential PDSA cycles to test changes proposed by team members. The percentage of dental workers who underwent these tests was used as the measure. Results: During the project period, the percentage of dental workers who underwent serological tests within nine months increased from 24% to 87%. Amongst the three interventions, the final one exhibited the most prominent change leading to major improvement. Conclusion: Serological tests are essential investigational data used to ensure the safety of dental workers, which subsequently also enhances patient safety. Further interventions are highly recommended to maximize the number of dental workers who undergo serological investigation.

Clin.iobio: A Collaborative Diagnostic Workflow to Enable Team-Based Precision Genomics

The primary goal of precision genomics is the identification of causative genetic variants in targeted or whole-genome sequencing data. The ultimate clinical hope is that these findings lead to an efficacious change in treatment for the patient. In current clinical practice, these findings are typically returned by expert analysts as static, text-based reports. Ideally, these reports summarize the quality of the data obtained, integrate known gene–phenotype associations, follow allele segregation and affected status within the sequenced samples, and weigh computational evidence of pathogenicity. These findings are used to prioritize the variant(s) most likely to cause the given patient’s phenotypes. In most diagnostic settings, a team of experts contribute to these reports, including bioinformaticians, clinicians, and genetic counselors, among others. However, these experts often do not have the necessary tools to review genomic findings, test genetic hypotheses, or query specific gene and variant information. Additionally, team members often rely on different tools and methods based on their given expertise, resulting in further difficulties in communicating and discussing genomic findings. Here, we present clin.iobio—a web-based solution to collaborative genomic analysis that enables diagnostic team members to focus on their area of expertise within the diagnostic process, while allowing them to easily review and contribute to all steps of the diagnostic process. Clin.iobio integrates tools from the popular iobio genomic visualization suite into a comprehensive diagnostic workflow, encompassing (1) genomic data quality review, (2) dynamic phenotype-driven gene prioritization, (3) variant prioritization using a comprehensive set of knowledge bases and annotations, (4) and an exportable findings summary. In conclusion, clin.iobio is a comprehensive solution to team-based precision genomics, the findings of which stand to inform genomic considerations in clinical practice.