Impact of an educational intervention combining clinical obesity preceptorship with electronic networking tools on primary care professionals: a prospective study

Background Primary care providers’ (PCPs) attitude toward obesity is often negative, and their confidence level for helping patients manage their weight is low. Continuing professional development (CPD) on the subject of obesity is often based on a single activity using a traditional passive approach such as lectures known to have little effect on performance or patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention for obesity management on PCPs’ attitude, self-efficacy, practice changes and patient-related outcomes. Methods Prospective interventional study with 12 months follow-up. A two-day clinical obesity preceptorship was offered where participants were actively involved in competence building using real-life situations, in addition to electronic networking tools, including a discussion forum and interactive monthly webinars. Thirty-five participants (12 nurses and 23 physicians) from seven Family medicine groups were enrolled. Questionnaires were used to evaluate the impact on primary care nurses’ and physicians’ attitudes and self-efficacy for obesity management. Practice changes and patient outcomes were evaluated using clinical vignettes, de-identified electronic patient records and qualitative analyses from group interviews. Results Physicians’ general attitude towards patients with obesity was improved (61 ± 22 mm vs 85 ± 17 mm, p < 0.001). Self-efficacy for obesity management and lifestyle counselling were also improved immediately and 1 year after the intervention (all Ps < 0.05). De-identified patient records and clinical vignettes both showed improvement in recording of weight, waist circumference and evaluation of readiness to change lifestyle (all Ps < 0.05) that was confirmed by group interviews. Also, 15% of patients who were prospectively registered for weight management had lost more than 5% of their initial weight at the time of their last visit (P < 0.0001, median follow-up of 152 days). Conclusion A multimodal educational intervention for obesity management can improve PCPs’attitude and self-efficacy for obesity management and lifestyle counselling. This translates into beneficial practice changes and patient-related outcomes. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01385397. Retrospectively registered, 28 June 2011.

Determinant of Islamic Banking Profitability In Indonesia

Finding a determinant of profitability has become one of the most popular topics in banking research. Previous research has identified many factors that significantly influence bank profitability. There are also many studies that measure the effectiveness of sharia banking globally, but few analyze the profitability issues of sharia banks. This study aims to analyze the impact of factors affecting profitability in Islamic Banks listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The method used is multiple linear regression analysis. The variables are return on assets as dependent variable and murabahah, musyarakah, mudharabah, branch office, cash office, and Automatic Teller Machine as independent variable. This study found that funding factors such as murabaha, musharaka and conventional and electronic networking factors such as Branch Office, Cash Office, and ATM had positive and significant impact on profitablity of Sharia Bank, while mudharabah had a negative and significant influence on profitablitas Sharia Bank. Sub-Branch Offices also had a negative but insignificant effect on the profitability of Sharia Banks. This result indicated that income on management became the most dominant income in generating profit of sharia banking. However, the management of funds could not work if not supported by Islamic banking channeling tools.

Determinant of Islamic Banking Profitability in Indonesia

Finding a determinant of profitability has become one of the most popular topics in banking research. Previous research has identified many factors that significantly influence bank profitability. There are also many studies that measure the effectiveness of sharia banking globally, but few analyze the profitability issues of sharia banks. This study aims to analyze the impact of factors affecting profitability in Islamic Banks listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The method used is multiple linear regression analysis. The variables are return on assets as dependent variable and murabahah, musyarakah, mudharabah, branch office, cash office, and Automatic Teller Machine as independent variable. This study found that funding factors such as murabaha, musharaka and conventional and electronic networking factors such as Branch Office, Cash Office, and ATM had positive and significant impact on profitablity of Sharia Bank, while mudharabah had a negative and significant influence on profitablitas Sharia Bank. Sub-Branch Offices also had a negative but insignificant effect on the profitability of Sharia Banks. This result indicated that income on management became the most dominant income in generating profit of sharia banking. However, the management of funds could not work if not supported by Islamic banking channeling tools.

Evaluating the use of electronic networking for continuing professional development.

This article reports on the British Library funded research project 'The use of information networking for continuing professional development' in progress at the University of Brighton. The project aims to survey and review the current extent of, and promote interest in, the delivery of programmes of continuing professional development (CPD) for information professionals by means of computer networks, network-based course materials and computer conferencing. it will assess the degree of professional demand for programmes of this nature and evaluate the opportunities for, and barriers to, future development in this area with a particular emphasis on the support of European collaboration.