Preferred Mode (prefer + mode)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Web-based virtual patients in dentistry: factors influencing the use of cases in the Web-SP system

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DENTAL EDUCATION, Issue 1 2009
N. Zary
Abstract We studied the students' acceptance and utilization of virtual patients (VPs) authored by faculty using the Web-SP system over two consecutive years. We also studied factors of importance for the utilization of VPs for self-assessment. Both year-groups studied found the Web-SP system easy to use and their overall opinion of Web-SP was positive (Median: 5, p25-p75: 4-5). They found the VPs engaging, realistic, fun to use, instructive and relevant to their course. Students used, on average, 9.68 VPs per course, which constitutes 43 percent of the available VPs. The number of VPs available seemed to be sufficient for the target course, even if some of the students preferred a higher number of VPs. Of the VPs encountered, 71% (CI: 68-75%) were VPs with feedback, and correspondingly 29% of the VPs chosen were without feedback. The difference in utilization between both types of VPs was significant, at p < 0.001. Thus, the students clearly favoured VPs with feedback compared to VPs without feedback. There were three modes of engagement in which the VP was utilized. Mode 1 was the preferred mode for VPs without feedback, while mode 3 was dominant for VPs with feedback.. Whether or not a VP was selected for review during a teacher led seminar or not, did not affect student behaviour, at least on the surface. Teacher led seminars may still be of importance to provide credibility to the VPs by integrating them into the curriculum. [source]


Short-wave diathermy: current clinical and safety practices

PHYSIOTHERAPY RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2002
Nora Shields MISCP
Abstract Background and Purpose Short-wave diathermy (SWD) is widely available, yet a comprehensive examination of current clinical practice remains absent from the literature. The present paper aims to assess clinical and safety issues in continuous (CSWD) and pulsed (PSWD) short-wave diathermy application and subsequently indicate areas for future research. Method A postal survey was carried out among 116 senior physiotherapists in 41 Irish hospital-based physiotherapy departments. Results The response rate to the study was 75%. Analysis found that PSWD was the preferred mode of treatment with 27% of respondents using it more than once daily. Respondents considered both modes of treatment indicated for a variety of conditions. CSWD was rated as an effective treatment for chronic osteoarthritis, polyarthritis, non-specific arthrosis and haematomas. PSWD was reported an effective modality for acute soft tissue injury, haematomas, acute osteoarthritis, sinusitis and rheumatoid arthritis. Dose selection varied greatly but tended to be based on the type, nature and duration of the condition. Analysis of safety practices uncovered concerning findings. Although a high level of agreement was found on measures for patient safety, 30% of respondents reported that no measures for operator safety were taken and only five respondents stated they remained a specified distance from SWD equipment. Measures to ensure the safety of other personnel in the physiotherapy department were also lacking. Conclusions Given the availability of SWD equipment and its apparent efficacy in certain conditions, future research should aim to establish this by means of controlled clinical trials. The findings on safety practices underline the urgent need for comprehensive guidelines to ensure the safety of operators, patients and the general public during SWD application. Copyright © 2002 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source]


Moral Reasoning in the Context of Reform: A Study of Russian Officials

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REVIEW, Issue 3 2002
Debra W. Stewart
This article reports on an exploratory study of ethical reasoning among public administrators in Russia. Survey interviews and focus group follow-ups with civil servants participating in graduate training programs at the Russian Academy of Public Service provide information about their preferred mode of ethical reasoning; the demographic, attitudinal, organizational, and professional factors associated with that reasoning; and the behavioral choices implied. Using a sample of 113 public officials who represent a broad spectrum of regions in Russia, this study assesses moral reasoning, examines variables associated with alternative models, and compares these responses with findings from studies conducted in Poland and the United States. Based on this exploratory study, we suggest implications for theory, research, and practice. [source]


Fear of childbirth according to parity, gestational age, and obstetric history

BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 1 2009
H Rouhe
Objective, To examine fear of childbirth according to parity, gestational age, and obstetric history. Design, A questionnaire study. Population and setting, 1400 unselected pregnant women in outpatient maternity clinics of a university central hospital. Methods, Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ) and preferred mode of delivery. Main outcome measures, W-DEQ and VAS scores according to parity, gestational age, obstetric history, and preferred mode of delivery. Results, The W-DEQ and VAS scores were higher in nulliparous (W-DEQ 72.0 ± 20.0 [mean ± SD] and VAS 4.7 [median]) than parous women (65.4 ± 21.9; 3.2, P < 0.001 for both W-DEQ and VAS). Higher W-DEQ and VAS scores were found for those beyond 21 weeks of gestation compared with those before (W-DEQ 71.6 ± 23.0 versus 66.6 ± 20.0, P < 0.001; VAS 4.7 versus 3.2, P < 0.001). Caesarean section was preferred mode of delivery for 8.1% and these women scored higher on fear (W-DEQ 87.6 ± 26.5, VAS median 7.0) than those who preferred vaginal delivery (W-DEQ 61.8 ± 18.7, VAS 2.7, P < 0.001, respectively). Those with a previous caesarean scored higher on fear (W-DEQ 73.2 ± 23.5, VAS 5.1) than parous women without previous caesarean (W-DEQ 63.3 ± 20.8, VAS 2.9, P < 0.001, respectively). Those with a history of a vacuum extraction (VE) (W-DEQ 70.6 ± 19.7, VAS 5.0) had higher fear scores than those without (W-DEQ 64.8 ± 22.0, P < 0.05 and VAS 3.0, P < 0.001). Conclusion, Severe fear of childbirth was more common in nulliparous women, in later pregnancy, and in women with previous caesarean section or VE. Caesarean section as a preferred mode of childbirth was strongly associated with high score in both W-DEQ and VAS. [source]


Chilean women's preferences regarding mode of delivery: which do they prefer and why?

BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 11 2006
ACE Angeja
Objective, Caesarean section rates in Chile are reported to be as high as 60% in some populations. The purpose of this study was to determine pregnant Chilean women's preferences towards mode of delivery. Design, Interviewer-administered cross-sectional survey. Setting, Prenatal clinics in Santiago, Chile. Population, Pregnant women in Santiago, Chile. Methods, Of 180 women completing the questionnaire, 90 were interviewed at a private clinic (caesarean delivery rate 60%) and 90 were interviewed at a public clinic (cesarean delivery rate 22%). Data collected included demographics, preferred mode of delivery, and women's attitudes towards vaginal and caesarean deliveries. Main outcome measures, Mode of delivery preferences, perceptions of mode of delivery measured on a 1,7 Likert scale. Results, The majority of women (77.8%) preferred vaginal delivery, 9.4% preferred caesarean section, and 12.8% had no preference. There was no statistical difference in preference between the public clinic (11% preferred caesarean) and the private clinic (8% preferred caesarean, P= 0.74). Overall, women preferring caesarean birth were slightly older than other groups (31.6 years, versus 28.4 years for women who preferred vaginal and 27.3 years for women who had no preference, P= 0.05), but there were otherwise no differences in parity, income, or education. On a scale of 1,7, women preferring caesarean birth rated vaginal birth as more painful, while women preferring vaginal birth rated it as less painful (5.8 versus 3.7, P= 0.003). Whether vaginal or caesarean, each group felt that their preferred mode of delivery was safer for their baby (P < 0.001). Conclusions, Chilean women do not prefer caesarean section to vaginal delivery, even in a practice setting where caesarean delivery is more prevalent. Thus, women's preferences is unlikely to be the most significant factor driving the high caesarean rates in Chile. [source]


Randomized clinical trial comparing loop ileostomy and loop transverse colostomy for faecal diversion following total mesorectal excision

BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 6 2002
W. L. Law
Background: The aim of this study was to compare loop ileostomy and loop transverse colostomy as the preferred mode of faecal diversion following low anterior resection with total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer. Methods: Patients who required proximal diversion after low anterior resection with total mesorectal excision were randomized to have either a loop ileostomy or a loop transverse colostomy. Postoperative morbidity, stoma-related problems and morbidity following closure were compared. Results: From April 1999 to November 2000, 42 patients had a loop ileostomy and 38 had a loop transverse colostomy constructed following low anterior resection. Postoperative intestinal obstruction and prolonged ileus occurred more commonly in patients with an ileostomy (P = 0·037). There was no difference in time to resumption of diet, length of hospital stay following stoma closure and incidence of stoma-related complications after discharge from hospital. A total of seven patients had intestinal obstruction from the time of stoma creation to stoma closure (six following ileostomy and one following colostomy; P = 0·01). Conclusion: Intestinal obstruction and ileus are more common after loop ileostomy than loop colostomy. Loop transverse colostomy should be recommended as the preferred method of proximal faecal diversion. © 2002 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd [source]


Lysine-based peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) with strong chiral constraint: Control of helix handedness and DNA binding by chirality

CHIRALITY, Issue S1 2005
Tullia Tedeschi
Abstract Two enantiomeric chiral PNAs bearing three adjacent d - or l -lysine-based residues in the middle of the strand ("chiral box" PNAs, sequence H-GTAGALysTLysCLysACT-NH2) have been used as models in order to comprehensively study the effects of the stereogenic centers on PNA conformation and on PNA binding properties to complementary PNA and DNA strands. The binding properties of the two enantiomeric PNAs and of their homologous achiral PNA have been extensively studied by UV and CD spectroscopy and by mass spectrometry, both in the antiparallel and in the parallel mode with complementary PNA and DNA strands. In the antiparallel PNA:PNA duplexes, l -Lys PNA were found to form left-handed, and d -Lys PNA right handed helices, while in parallel duplexes, the reversed helicities were observed. Correspondingly, the preferred mode of binding and the best mismatch recognition of the d -Lys containing PNA with (right handed) DNA was found to be in the antiparallel orientation, while that of l -Lys PNA was found to be in the parallel mode. A rationale which correlates the preferred handedness of the PNA-PNA duplexes to the directionality of the binding to complementary DNA duplexes has been devised according to structural data and considering the "retro,inverso" concept widely used for peptides. Chirality 17:S196,S204, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Research use and support needs, and research activity in social care: a cross-sectional survey in two councils with social services responsibilities in the UK

HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 5 2008
Cooke Jo BNurs MA RGN HV cert NDN
Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of research activity, research use, research interests and research skills in the social care workforce in two UK councils with social service responsibilities (CSSRs). A cross-sectional survey was conducted of the social care workforce in two CSSRs (n = 1512) in 2005. The sample was identified in partnership with the councils, and included employees with professional qualifications (social workers and occupational therapists); staff who have a role to assess, plan and monitor care; service managers; commissioners of services; and those involved with social care policy, information management and training. The survey achieved a response rate of 24% (n = 368). The Internet was reported as an effective source of research information; conversely, research-based guidelines were reported to have a low impact on practice. Significant differences were found in research use, by work location, and postgraduate training. Most respondents saw research as useful for practice (69%), and wanted to collaborate in research (68%), but only 11% were planning to do research within the next 12 months. Having a master's degree was associated with a greater desire to lead or collaborate in research. A range of research training needs, and the preferred modes of delivery were identified. Support to increase research activity includes protected time and mentorship. The study concludes that a range of mechanisms to make research available for the social care workforce needs to be in place to support evidence-informed practice. Continual professional development to a postgraduate level supports the use and production of evidence in the social care workforce, and promotes the development of a research culture. The term research is used to include service user consultations, needs assessment and service evaluation. The findings highlight a relatively large body of the social care workforce willing to collaborate and conduct research. Councils and research support systems need to be developed to utilise this relatively untapped potential. [source]


You Can't Always Get What You Want,Infant Care Preferences and Use Among Employed Mothers

JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY, Issue 1 2002
Lisa A. Riley
Although much scholarly attention has been paid to the question of whether a "shortage" of adequate child care exists, few studies have framed this issue around the disjuncture between mothers' preferred modes of care and the types of care available to them. In this study, we address that gap by asking what mothers want, what mothers use, and why many don't use the form of care they prefer. Using a regional sample of 247 pregnant women who returned to paid employment within the 1st year postpartum and used nonmaternal child care, we found that the majority of the mothers surveyed preferred father care (53%), but only 23% primarily used father care. Derived from logistic regression models, the significant determinants of achieving the type of care preferred are the presence of additional children under age 5, higher educational attainment, and the mother working an evening or night work shift. [source]