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Quality Assurance Procedures (quality + assurance_procedure)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	42%

Selected Abstracts

Application of the Levenshtein Distance Metric for the Construction of Longitudinal Data Files

EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT: ISSUES AND PRACTICE, Issue 2 2010
Harold C. Doran
The analysis of longitudinal data in education is becoming more prevalent given the nature of testing systems constructed for No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). However, constructing the longitudinal data files remains a significant challenge. Students move into new schools, but in many cases the unique identifiers (ID) that should remain constant for each student change. As a result, different students frequently share the same ID, and merging records for an ID that is erroneously assigned to different students clearly becomes problematic. In small data sets, quality assurance of the merge can proceed through human reviews of the data to ensure all merged records are properly joined. However, in data sets with hundreds of thousands of cases, quality assurance via human review is impossible. While the record linkage literature has many applications in other disciplines, the educational measurement literature lacks details of formal protocols that can be used for quality assurance procedures for longitudinal data files. This article presents an empirical quality assurance procedure that may be used to verify the integrity of the merges performed for longitudinal analysis. We also discuss possible extensions that would permit merges to occur even when unique identifiers are not available. [source]

Feasibility of using the TOSCA telescreening procedures for diabetic retinopathy

DIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 10 2004
S. Luzio
Abstract Aims The TOSCA project was set up to establish a tele-ophthalmology service to screen for diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Europe. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of establishing telemedicine-based digital screening for detecting DR and to evaluate the satisfaction of both patients and healthcare professionals with the screening procedures used within the TOSCA project. Methods The study was a non-randomized, multicentre study carried out in four different countries over a period of 3 months. Patients (n = 390) with diabetes aged > 12 years were included. Two digital retinal images per eye (macular and nasal) were taken and exported to a central server. Patients were asked to complete a questionnaire to assess satisfaction. Accredited graders carried out grading remotely and the results were reported back to the referring centre. Previously graded patient data chosen randomly to represent examples of both DR and no DR were also sent anonymously to the grading centre at a frequency of approximately every 10 patients. Results Most (99%) of the images were assessable enabling a retinopathy grade to be assigned to the patient. Patients found the retinal photography procedures acceptable; only 6% in one centre would not recommend the procedure. Healthcare professionals (photographers and graders) were also satisfied with the overall procedures. The average time taken to grade each patient was approximately 5 min. Conclusions This study demonstrated that it is feasible to electronically transmit and grade retinal images remotely using the TOSCA process. Built-in quality assurance procedures proved acceptable. [source]

The role of banned substance residue analysis in the control of dietary supplement contamination

DRUG TESTING AND ANALYSIS, Issue 9 2010
Dr Catherine MG Judkins
Abstract The potential for contaminated dietary supplements to result in a failed doping test remains a concern for athletes, trainers, and sporting authorities despite improvements to regulatory guidelines. Previous surveys of readily available supplements confirm that many are contaminated with steroids and stimulants prohibited for use in elite sport. Suggested responses to this issue include the complete avoidance of all supplements. Many athletes, however, use nutritional supplements to achieve effective training and also to ensure that daily nutritional requirements are met (e.g. recommended levels of vitamins and minerals). This ensures that the use of supplements is and will remain the norm for a range of sports. As a result, an alternative approach of rigorous testing of materials destined for use by elite athletes has been introduced in several countries. While the testing of final product for banned substances may help mitigate the problem, it will not help to remove the underlying issue of contamination. In this article we describe an alternative approach that uses appropriate quality assurance procedures backed up by testing to remove sources of contamination. The decrease in the incidence of contamination amongst supplement companies adopting such a system is explained, and contrasted with the relatively high incidences of contamination found in products that are not part of a quality system. These findings are of key importance to both supplement manufacturers and those involved in advising athletes about supplement use. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Application of the Levenshtein Distance Metric for the Construction of Longitudinal Data Files

Optimizing in-kind drug donations for Tanzania,a case study

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT, Issue 4 2008
Gaby Gehler Mariacher
Abstract A questionnaire survey (QS) among stakeholders in Tanzania had shown that in-kind drug donations (DDs) are important to boost the drug supply system. Major problems were their insufficient quantity for sustainable treatment and the discrepancy between the needs of the recipients and the donors' supply. Objectives in this study were to discuss these findings and to learn from key informants (KIs) how to improve the DD process. Data were collected through KI interviews in 2001/2002. A 30% gap in drug supply has to be bridged by DDs. KIs confirmed the importance of the World Health Organisation and Tanzanian DD guidelines as a tool for good donation practice and emphasized the role of the government in their implementation. They requested that donors meet the recipient country's regulatory requirements. In contrast to QS respondents, KIs did not view DD quality as a minor problem, and proposed that DD quality should be adapted to the national quality assurance procedures. DD processes could be improved through (a) effective implementation of DD guidelines as an aid for decision-making and for quality assurance, (b) availability of data to improve communication between donors and recipients, (c) transparency between recipients and donors and (d) clearly defined accountability. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Centre credentialing for Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group trial 06.02: multicentre feasibility study of accelerated partial breast irradiation

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL IMAGING AND RADIATION ONCOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
T Kron
Summary Introduction:, Inconsistencies in contouring target volumes for partial breast irradiation (PBI) may result in geographical misses and compromise treatment outcomes. The present study aimed to (1) determine the variability of the target volumes contoured and treatment plans generated by participating centres in credentialing for participation in a multicentre PBI trial; and (2) assess dosimetric changes when standardized target volumes were used. Methods:, The CT image sets of two de-identified patients post-breast conserving surgery were used. Contouring of the target volumes for the two cases was performed and a treatment plan as per protocol specifications was generated for each case by the seven participating centres. Planning of both cases was repeated by five centres using a set of standardized target volumes to evaluate resulting dosimetric changes in the treatment plans. Results:, The surgical cavity, the part of the planning target volume used for dose evaluation and ipsilateral whole breast volumes contoured by the centres varied by 25%, 16% and 21% (1 standard deviation), respectively. The dosimetric variations found when the standardized target volumes were used were smaller than those noted when centre-specific volumes were used. The volumes of the ipsilateral lungs receiving 30% of the prescribed dose and the volumes of the ipsilateral whole breasts receiving 95% and 50% of the prescribed dose were reduced in the treatment plans developed using the standardized target volumes. Conclusions:, Given the impact of contouring on dose distributions, quality assurance procedures in clinical trials of PBI need to take into account both the technical approaches and the contouring. [source]

Developing standard approaches for recording and assessing river hydromorphology: the role of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN)

AQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue S1 2010
Philip J. Boon
Abstract 1. Over the last 20 years the concept of ,freshwater quality' has expanded to incorporate a range of physical, chemical, hydromorphological and biological characteristics. In Europe, this process has been given greater impetus by the EC Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the requirement for Member States to assess and monitor a comprehensive suite of freshwater features. 2. Assessments of river hydromorphology are needed not only for implementing the WFD but also for nature conservation purposes, such as monitoring the condition of Special Areas of Conservation under the EC Habitats Directive and helping in the management and restoration of rivers. At present there are few detailed methods available in Europe for assessing river hydromorphology, and standard approaches are urgently required. 3. The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) works to promote voluntary technical harmonization in Europe in conjunction with worldwide bodies and its European partners. The production of a CEN standard for assessing the hydromorphological features of rivers began in September 1999 and culminated in the production of EN 14614 in November 2004. 4. EN 14614 is a ,guidance standard' that provides a framework of general principles and sets out which aspects of river hydromorphology should be assessed, how to plan and conduct field surveys, how results should be interpreted and presented, and ways of applying quality assurance procedures. 5. A second CEN standard on river hydromorphology has recently been published. Using simple scoring systems, this will enable the extent of hydromorphological modification to river channels, banks, riparian zones and floodplains to be recorded and assessed consistently. 6. CEN standards encourage European collaboration and provide a framework which other countries can use to develop their own assessment methods. However, ways need to be found to streamline the process of standardization and to ensure that published standards influence the work of researchers, environmental regulators and policy makers. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]