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Assessment Results (assessment + result)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	40%

Selected Abstracts

Towards valid measures of self-directed clinical learning

MEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 11 2003
Tim Dornan
Aim, To compare the validity of different measures of self-directed clinical learning. Methods, We used a quasi-experimental study design. The measures were: (1) a 23-item quantitative instrument measuring satisfaction with the learning process and environment; (2) free text responses to 2 open questions about the quality of students' learning experiences; (3) a quantitative, self-report measure of real patient learning, and (4) objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) and progress test results. Thirty-three students attached to a single firm during 1 curriculum year in Phase 2 of a problem-based medical curriculum formed an experimental group. Thirty-one students attached to the same firm in the previous year served as historical controls and 33 students attached to other firms within the same module served as contemporary controls. After the historical control period, experimental group students were exposed to a complex curriculum intervention that set out to maximise appropriate real patient learning through increased use of the outpatient setting, briefing and supported, reflective debriefing. Results, The quantitative satisfaction instrument was insensitive to the intervention. In contrast, the qualitative measure recorded a significantly increased number of positive statements about the appropriateness of real patient learning. Moreover, the quantitative self-report measure of real patient learning found high levels of appropriate learning activity. Regarding outpatient learning, the qualitative and quantitative real patient learning instruments were again concordant and changed in the expected direction, whereas the satisfaction measure did not. An incidental finding was that, despite all attempts to achieve horizontal integration through simultaneously providing community attachments and opening up the hospital for self-directed clinical learning, real patient learning was strongly bounded by the specialty interest of the hospital firm to which students were attached. Assessment results did not correlate with real patient learning. Conclusions, Both free text responses and students' quantitative self-reports of real patient learning were more valid than a satisfaction instrument. One explanation is that students had no benchmark against which to rate their satisfaction and curriculum change altered their tacit benchmarks. Perhaps the stronger emphasis on self-directed learning demanded more of students and dissatisfied those who were less self-directed. Results of objective, standardised assessments were not sensitive to the level of self-directed, real patient learning. Despite an integrated curriculum design that set out to override disciplinary boundaries, students' learning remained strongly influenced by the specialty of their hospital firm. [source]

Assessment of preference for behavioral treatment versus baseline conditions

BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS, Issue 3 2007
Claudia L. Dozier
This study was designed to determine whether behavioral treatments would be preferred over no treatment (baseline) conditions. Functional analyses and descriptive observations were conducted to determine the variables that maintained each participant's problem behavior. Next, treatments were implemented based on assessment results. Finally, participants were provided a choice between baseline and treatment conditions to determine whether they preferred to participate in treatment. Baseline conditions were in place on one side of a room and treatment conditions were in place on the other side of the room. Assessment results suggested that problem behavior was automatically reinforced for one participant and multiply controlled for another participant. The treatment results showed that differential reinforcement and extinction (extinction was not implemented for automatically reinforced behavior) were effective in reducing problem behavior for each participant. Results of the choice between baseline and treatment phase showed that both participants chose treatment over baseline conditions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Development of a questionnaire to collect public health data for school entrants in London: Child Health Assessment at School Entry (CHASE) project

CHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 1 2005
S. Edmunds
Abstract Background, To develop a multiprofessional consensus about the relative contributions of the components of children's health and well-being and to develop a questionnaire that can be used to assess these in London's children. Methods, Semi-structured interviews with health, education and social services professionals were used to identify areas to include in the questionnaire. These ideas were used as the basis for a wider Delphi consultation, with 79 experts in the area of child health. Round 1 of the Delphi asked panellists to rate 54 items as to whether they should be included in the questionnaire or not. Responses were divided into four categories: item to be included measurement method agreed, item to be included measurement method not agreed, no consensus, or excluded. In round 2, consensus was sought for the categories where there was none following round 1. Results, Themes identified by the interviews were: economic factors, ethnicity, environment, nutrition, hygiene and physical activity, growth, suffers from chronic/serious illness, development, disability and learning, accidents and hospital attendances, self-regulation, psychological well-being, significant life events. After Delphi round 1, items included, where quality measurement method was agreed, were: deprivation index (from postcode), child's ethnicity, temporary accommodation, care status, registered with general practitioner, dental visits, height, weight, special educational needs status, baseline educational assessment result, immunization status, visual and hearing function. Following round 2, items relating to chronic illness, mental health, physical functioning, general health, self-esteem, family cohesion and accident status were agreed for inclusion with a measurement method also agreed. The questionnaire was acceptable to parents. Conclusion, The validity, reliability and feasibility of this questionnaire must now be examined. This data set, if collected across London, would substantially increase the public health data available and allow trends in health to be monitored. [source]

An exploration of nutrition and eating disabilities in relation to quality of life at 6 months post-stroke

HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 4 2004
Lin Perry PhD MSc RGN RNT
Abstract Quality of life (QoL) is increasingly recognised as an important healthcare outcome, especially for those living with enduring disability. Stroke is a major source of long-term disablement and many aspects of life after stroke have been explored. Little attention has been paid to nutritional issues despite the cultural and hedonistic importance of food and eating, and the deleterious effects of malnutrition. The present study employed an epidemiological survey to investigate the contribution of dietary and nutritional factors in relation to QoL after stroke. The participants were 206 survivors of a cohort of acute stroke patients consecutively admitted to a National Health Service trust hospital in South London, UK, between March 1998 and April 1999. They were interviewed in their homes at 6 months post-stroke. Cognitively or communication-impaired patients were precluded from interview except where a live-in carer participated as a proxy (n = 10). The participation rate for those who were eligible and could be contacted was 206 out of 218 (94%). Participants were assessed using standardised, validated tools for functional abilities in activities of daily living and eating, cognition and mood state, social support and economic indices, nutritional status, dietary intake, and QoL. Overall group scores demonstrated relatively minor degrees of physical disablement; exclusion of those with limited cognition and communication precluded assessment of a small subgroup with greater disablement at hospital discharge. Nonetheless, the overall assessment results were not dissimilar to other reported groups. Indices of poor nutritional status and substantial dietary inadequacy were revealed, linked with reduced appetite and depression. Multiple regression analyses revealed the dominant impact of mood state in relation to QoL scores; additional significant effects were identified for social support, eating-related disabilities and age. The effects of mood and social support are well-recognised, whilst nutrition-related effects have previously received little attention. Intervention in these areas might achieve improvements in survivors' perceived QoL. [source]

Assessing and reporting the quality of commercial weather forecasts

METEOROLOGICAL APPLICATIONS, Issue 4 2008
Pascal J. Mailier
Abstract In 2005 the Royal Meteorological Society commissioned a study to examine current issues regarding the quality (fitness for purpose) of commercial weather forecasts in the United Kingdom. UK commercial weather forecast providers and users were consulted by means of on-line questionnaires, interviews, visits and an open workshop discussion. Results from this consultation uncovered significant deficiencies in the methodologies and in the communication of forecast quality assessments, a lack of open dialogue and transparency in the industry, and that some users may be indifferent to forecast quality. Descriptive or worded forecasts cannot be assessed objectively. However, suitable quality assessment methods are available for nearly all types of quantitative forecasts identified in the consultation. The crucial importance of choosing proper quality assessment metrics, the impact of their statistical properties on results and the need to estimate the statistical significance of quality assessment results were exemplified by means of four case studies, one of which is presented in this paper. The findings from this study have led to a set of practical recommendations aiming to establish the discipline and rigour that are necessary for achieving best practice in the quality assessment of weather forecasts. Specific recommendations were also made to the Royal Meteorological Society to set up a special commission that would promote a sense of community within the industry, and to run an accreditation scheme that would encourage best practice on a voluntary basis. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society [source]