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Joint Assessment (joint + assessment)
Selected AbstractsJoint Assessment of Optimal Sales Force Sizes and Sales Call Guidelines: A Management-Oriented ToolCANADIAN JOURNAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCES, Issue 3 2005René Y. Darmon Abstract Sales force sizing and sales effort allocation methods vary from simplistic rules of thumb to sophisticated analytical procedures. The former methods are easy to understand and implement, but they are typically inaccurate and probably invalid. The latter procedures may provide more accurate and valid results, but they are more difficult to explain to management and require data collection and analysis that are often quite elaborate. This paper proposes a method of optimal estimation of total sales effort level and time allocation that combines the advantages of both approaches. For each customer segment, this method accounts for the so far neglected, but relevant, optimal call effort allocation between number of calls per account during a planning period and length of sales calls. A case study illustrates this method. Résumé Les méthodes de détermination de la taille et de l'allocation des efforts de vente vont des règles empiriques les plus simples aux procédures analytiques les plus complexes. Les premières sont faciles à comprendre et à appliquer, mais elles sont imprècises et souvent non valides. Les autres méthodes peuvent donner des résultats plus exacts, mais elles sont plus difficiles à expliquer aux managers et nécessitent souvent une collecte et une analyse de données fort laborieuses. Le présent article propose une méthode d'estimation optimale de la taille et de l'allocation des efforts de vente qui combine les avantages des deux approches. Pour chaque segment de la clientèle, la méthode rend compte de l'allocation optimale (souvent négligée, mais pertinente), de l'effort de vente entre le nombre de visites à faire à un client pendant une période de planification et la longueur des visites. Un cas concret illustre la méthode. [source] Customized mandibular orthotics in the prevention of concussion/mild traumatic brain injury in football players: a preliminary studyDENTAL TRAUMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2009G. Dave Singh However, previous investigations have primarily studied non-customized mouthguards without dental/temporo-mandibular joint examinations of the subjects. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine whether the use of a customized mandibular orthotic after temporo-mandibular joint assessment reduces the incidence of concussion/mild traumatic brain injuries in high-school football players. Materials and methods:, Using a longitudinal, retrospective design, data were collected from a cohort of football players (n = 28) over three seasons using a questionnaire. The mean age of the sample prior to the use of the customized mandibular orthotic was 17.3 years ± 1.9. Prior to deployment, dental records and temporo-mandibular joint evaluations were undertaken, as well as neurocognitive assessment, including history of concussion/mild traumatic brain injuries. After establishing optimal jaw position, a customized mandibular orthotic was fabricated to the new spatial relations. Results:, The mean age of the sample after three seasons was 19.7 years ± 2.0. Prior to the use of the customized mandibular orthotic, the mean self-reported incidence of concussion/mild traumatic brain injuries was 2.1 ± 1.4 concussive events. After the deployment of the customized mandibular orthotic the number of concussive events fell to 0.11 ± 0.3 with an odds ratio of 38.33 (95% CI 8.2,178.6), P < 0.05. Conclusion:, The preliminary results of this study suggest that a customized mandibular orthotic may decrease the incidence of concussion/mild traumatic brain injuries in high- school football athletes, but a comprehensive study is required to confirm these initial findings. Furthermore, additional research is necessary to indicate the possible mode(s) of action of a customized mandibular orthotic in the prevention of concussion/mild traumatic brain injuries. [source] Exercise in treating depression: Broadening the psychotherapist's roleJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 11 2001Kenneth M. Pollock Research findings over the past two decades strongly indicate that moderate exercise can have a beneficial effect upon depression, yet suggestions to depressed patients that they exercise rarely are followed. Despite the research, few psychotherapists employ exercise promotion and maintenance as part of their treatment. An approach to integrating exercise promotion into psychotherapy treatment is presented. It incorporates a therapist,patient collaborative process involving joint assessment of biopsychosocial barriers and facilitators for exercise initiation and maintenance that are unique to the patient. Based upon the assessment, a collaborative exercise plan is developed and implemented. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol/In Session 57: 1289,1300, 2001. [source] Long-term safety and effectiveness of etanercept in children with selected categories of juvenile idiopathic arthritis,ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 9 2009E. H. Giannini Objective This study was undertaken to evaluate the long-term safety and effectiveness of etanercept alone or in combination with methotrexate (MTX) in children with selected categories of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Methods Patients ages 2,18 years with rheumatoid factor (RF),positive or RF-negative polyarthritis, systemic JIA, or extended oligoarthritis were eligible for the study. Patients received MTX alone (,10 mg/m2/week [,0.3 mg/kg/week], maximum dosage 1 mg/kg/week), etanercept alone (0.8 mg/kg/week, maximum dose 50 mg), or etanercept plus MTX for 3 years in an open-label, nonrandomized study. Safety was assessed by measuring rates of adverse events, and effectiveness was assessed using the physician's global assessment of disease activity and the pediatric total joint assessment. Results A total of 197, 103, and 294 patients were enrolled in the MTX, etanercept, and etanercept plus MTX groups, respectively. Exposure-adjusted rates of adverse events were similar among the 3 treatment groups (18.3, 18.7, and 21.6 per 100 patient-years in the MTX, etanercept, and etanercept plus MTX groups, respectively). Respective rates per 100 patient-years of serious adverse events (4.6, 7.1, and 6.0) and medically important infections (1.3, 1.8, and 2.1) were also similar among the 3 treatment groups. Scores for physician's global assessment and total active joints improved from baseline, and improvement was maintained for the duration of the study. Conclusion These data confirm the findings of other long-term studies and suggest that etanercept or etanercept plus MTX has an acceptable safety and effectiveness profile in children with selected categories of JIA. Improvement was maintained for 3 years in those continuing to receive medication. [source] Presence of significant synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis patients with disease-modifying antirheumatic drug,induced clinical remission: Evidence from an imaging study may explain structural progressionARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 12 2006A. K. Brown Objective More timely and effective therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has contributed to increasing rates of clinical remission. However, progression of structural damage may still occur in patients who have satisfied remission criteria, which suggests that there is ongoing disease activity. This questions the validity of current methods of assessing remission in RA. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that modern joint imaging improves the accuracy of remission measurement in RA. Methods We studied 107 RA patients receiving disease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapy who were judged by their consultant rheumatologist to be in remission and 17 normal control subjects. Patients underwent clinical, laboratory, functional, and quality of life assessments. The Disease Activity Score 28-joint assessment and the American College of Rheumatology remission criteria, together with strict clinical definitions of remission, were applied. Imaging of the hands and wrists using standardized acquisition and scoring techniques with conventional 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US) were performed. Results Irrespective of which clinical criteria were applied to determine remission, the majority of patients continued to have evidence of active inflammation, as shown by findings on the imaging assessments. Even in asymptomatic patients with clinically normal joints, MRI showed that 96% had synovitis and 46% had bone marrow edema, and US showed that 73% had gray-scale synovial hypertrophy and 43% had increased power Doppler signal. Only mild synovial thickening was seen in 3 of the control subjects (18%), but no bone marrow edema. Conclusion Most RA patients who satisfied the remission criteria with normal findings on clinical and laboratory studies had imaging-detected synovitis. This subclinical inflammation may explain the observed discrepancy between disease activity and outcome in RA. Imaging assessment may be necessary for the accurate evaluation of disease status and, in particular, for the definition of true remission. [source] Assessment of pain by parents in young children following surgeryPEDIATRIC ANESTHESIA, Issue 4 2001Joanna Morgan BMed Sci Background:,We asked parents to assess pain in young children following surgery. Methods:,Assessments were carried out by both parents and an independent assessor using a behavioural observational scale. Results:,Forms were returned from the parents of 42 children aged 1,5 years. There were 123 joint assessments and there was a strong correlation between the scores by the observer and the parents (r2=0.84). Twenty-nine children experienced pain following discharge from hospital. Conclusions:,Our findings suggest that parents can assess pain in young children following surgery. The management of pain following discharge from hospital can be improved. [source] | ||||||||||