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Manual Skills (manual + skill)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	87%

Selected Abstracts

Leaf Processing by Wild Chimpanzees: Physically Defended Leaves Reveal Complex Manual Skills

ETHOLOGY, Issue 8 2002
Nadia Corp
The manual processing of eight species of leaf was investigated in the M-group chimpanzees of Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania. Leaf species varied in the extent to which physical defences made consumption difficult. In all, 96 distinct techniques for leaf processing were identified, but two species with defended leaves (Ficus asperifolia and F. exasperata) required 2.5 as many techniques as did any of the six undefended species. Moreover, chimpanzees made more multiple leaf detachments, and made more subsequent modifications of the leaves, when dealing with the leaves of these two Ficus species, compared with the undefended leaf species. This greater complexity was associated with evidence of flexible, hierarchical organization of the process: iteration of modules consisting of several processing elements, facultative omission of modules, or substitutions of alternative modules. Comparison with data from mountain gorillas is made, and is consistent with similar cognitive architecture in the two species. We consider that, not only is hierarchical organization currently associated with mechanical difficulty in food processing, but that over evolutionary time-scales difficulties in food processing may have selected for cognitive advance. [source]

Testing of fine motor skills in dental students

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DENTAL EDUCATION, Issue 1 2000
Olaf Luck
Manual skills form only a part of the capabilities required of future dentists, but they are a very important component, which should be tested. With regard to the dental specialities, the present study tested speciality-independent fine motor skills. No objective, practical solution has been found up to now. 88 dental students and, as a control group, 23 medical students were examined in the longitudinal study. In the course of the analysis, 4 fine motor tests were carried out at the beginning of the 2nd and 6th semesters. The tests comprised the tremometer test, the tremometer test with a mirror, the 2-hand sinusoid test and archery using the Game Gear by SEGA. The test devices facilitate primarily the testing of components of accuracy of movements, indirect working methods, and eye-hand coordination. In the comparison of performances on test day A, the medical students' performance was noticeably better. As testing progressed, results showed stagnation in the performance of the medical students and a significant improvement in the performance of the dental students. That means that the test system can be used for a test over the course of study, but not as an initial test. [source]

Influence of depressed mood on neuropsychologic performance in HIV-seropositive drug users

PSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES, Issue 3 2003
Enrique Vázquez-Justo
Abstract Some studies point out that depression affects the performance of HIV patients in neuropsychological tasks, but at present this effect is not clear. The purpose of the present paper was to study whether the presence of symptoms of depression affects the neuropsychologic performance of seropositive drug users in tasks of attention/concentration, learning and memory, language, construction and visuospatial function, speed of motor performance, cognitive flexibility, manual skill and concept formation and reasoning. In order to carry out this research a sample consisting of 127 male volunteer subjects was used. These subjects were distributed in four groups: one group consisted of HIV-seropositive drug users with symptoms of depression (n = 33); the second group consisted of HIV-seropositive drug users without symptoms of depression (n = 47); the third group was formed by HIV-seronegative drug users with symptoms of depression (n = 15) and the fourth group was formed by HIV-seronegative drug users without symptoms of depression (n = 32). The results reveal the effect of symptoms of depression (evaluated by the Beck Depression Inventory) on the neuropsychologic performance of seropositive drug users. This effect, however, was not observed in the seronegative group. These findings lead us to suggest that symptoms of depression constitute a risk factor for presenting neuropsychologic disturbances in seropositive subjects, which could well be acting as a factor that foments the neuropsychological effects of HIV. [source]

More to teamwork than knowledge, skill and attitude

BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 10 2010
D Siassakos
Please cite this paper as: Siassakos D, Draycott T, Crofts J, Hunt L, Winter C, Fox R. More to teamwork than knowledge, skill and attitude. BJOG 2010;117:1262,1269. Objective, To assess whether team performance in simulated eclampsia is related to the knowledge, skills and attitudes of individual team members. Design, Cross-sectional analysis of data from the Simulation and Fire Drill Evaluation randomised controlled trial. Setting, Six secondary and tertiary maternity units in south-west England. Participants, One hundred and fourteen maternity professionals in 19 teams of six members; one senior and one junior obstetrician; two senior and two junior midwives. Methods, We validated a team performance ranking scheme with respect to magnesium administration (Magnesium Administration Rank, MAR) by expert consensus (face validity) and correlation with clinical measures (construct validity). We tested for correlation between MAR and measures of knowledge, skills and attitudes. Main outcome measures, Correlation between team performance (MAR) and scores in validated multiple-choice questionnaires (MCQs) (knowledge), a measure of individual manual skill to manage an obstetric emergency (skill) and scores in a widely used teamwork/safety attitude questionnaire (attitude). Results, There was no relationship between team performance and cumulative individual MCQs, skill or teamwork/safety attitude scores. Conclusions, The knowledge, manual skills and attitudes of the individuals comprising each team, measured by established methods, did not correlate in this study with the team's clinical efficiency in the management of simulated eclampsia. The inference is that unidentified characteristic(s) play a crucial part in the efficiency of teams managing emergencies. Any emphasis of training programmes to promote individual knowledge, skills and attitudes alone may have to be re-examined. This highlights a need to understand what makes a team efficient in dealing with clinical emergencies. [source]

Occupational exposures occurring in students in a UK dental school,

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DENTAL EDUCATION, Issue 3 2002
D. A. Stewardson
Background:, Students whilst training may encounter a number of incidents where infection from patient body fluids may occur, especially as their manual skills are underdeveloped and their clinical experience is limited. Purpose of study:, (a) To assess the nature of the occupational exposures occurring to students in a UK dental school, (b) to assess the rate of reporting of incidents, and (c) to evaluate the association of various factors with these exposures. Students in the third, fourth and final years of the 5-year undergraduate dental course at the University of Birmingham were asked to complete a questionnaire that enquired into personal details, number and nature of incidents, their reporting and follow-up. A 100% response rate was achieved. Results:, Across the years, there was no significant correlation (p > 0.01) between sex, dominant hand, use of protective glasses or time of day. Slightly more exposures occurred in males, right-handed students, and in the afternoon. A significant decrease in exposures (p < 0.01) occurred within final year, and when an assistant was employed. Significantly more incidents occurred while a patient was being treated than during operational clean-up procedures. A substantial number of dental students had experienced one or more occupational exposures during training. Of these, percutaneous injuries predominated. Junior students appear to be more likely to experience exposures, and in these students, needlestick injuries are the most common source. Conclusions:, To reduce the incidence of these exposures, more instruction and training may be required in the earlier clinical years and more chairside assistance. Improvements are required in the monitoring of post-screening for seroconversion after HBV immunization, and in the reporting of test results in the event of an exposure incident. Under-reporting of incidents is common and ways to encourage and facilitate reporting should be sought. [source]

Rheumatology nurses' work-related empowerment

MUSCULOSKELETAL CARE, Issue 2 2007
Heidi Juhola RN MScN
Abstract Objective:,The purpose of the study was to investigate rheumatology nurse specialists' work related empowerment. Method:,Nine nurses undertaking graduate studies were asked to write an essay on ,What work related skills does the rheumatology nurse need to master?' In addition, one interview was conducted. The material was analysed using the method of inductive content analysis. Results:,The following key areas of work related empowerment were identified as important: knowledge about rheumatic diseases; treatments and follow up monitoring care; knowledge about patient education and counselling; collaboration and the ability to co operate; mastery of manual skills and development of the quality of nursing care for patients with rheumatic disease. Conclusion:,The study contributes to a better understanding of work related empowerment among rheumatology nurses. The results of the study can be used to develop the role components of healthcare professionals who attend patients with rheumatic disease. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Usability and Safety of Ventricular Assist Devices: Human Factors and Design Aspects

ARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 9 2009
Lorenz Geidl
Abstract The purpose of this study was the investigation of the usability and ergonomics of ventricular assist devices (VADs) in everyday usage. Patients with four different VAD types were observed. After implantation, instruction, and discharge from the hospital, the patients returned on a regular basis to the outpatient clinic, where the investigation took place. Data collection took place in two phases. In phase I home-released VAD patients were asked about perceived problems with the system at home. Additionally health-care professionals were interviewed to gather information on frequent VAD inconveniences and shortcomings. This inquiry resulted in a standardized self-assessment questionnaire and a manual skill test, which were performed in phase II by the whole collective (16 patients and ongoing). As a result, 38% of the patients disconnected parts of their system unintentionally at least once. All of them ascribed this problem to their own carelessness. Thirty-eight percent had to replace a cable. Seventy-five percent desired an additional cable strain relief. Thirty-eight percent suffered from rubbing of parts on the body. Sixty-three percent used a separate repository aside from the factory-provided transportation systems. The overall noise emission (pump, ventilators, and alarms) annoyed 56%; however, for 32% the alarm signals were too quiet to wake them up. No correlation between the assessed manual skills and the number of adverse events was found. To conclude, this preliminary study revealed considerable potential for improvements in the usability of ventricular assist systems. [source]