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Selected AbstractsWEB SITES & LISTSERVERSECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT & RESTORATION, Issue 3 2004Article first published online: 25 APR 200 No abstract is available for this article. [source] "Not the Romantic, All Happy, Coochy Coo Experience": A Qualitative Analysis of Interactions on an Irish Parenting Web SiteFAMILY RELATIONS, Issue 1 2010Ellen Brady Support groups in online communities provide an anonymous place to exchange information and advice. Previous research has suggested that these groups offer a safe, nonjudgmental forum for new parents to share experiences and interact anonymously. This study investigated how participants in online parenting groups experience support via the Internet and what types of support they receive. All posts made over a 2-week period on the parenting-related discussion boards of an Irish parenting Web site were analyzed using content and thematic analyses. Exploratory, semistructured interviews were also conducted with 2 forum participants to discuss their experience of using the Web site. Themes uncovered from the data gathered included the attempts by posters to dispel the myths surrounding motherhood and the recognition of the superiority of the mother as caregiver. The results revealed that the parenting Web site was seen as a safe, supportive space, in which mothers could develop an enhanced frame of reference in which to better understand the role of parenting. The role of online support groups as a viable solution to the decreasing social networks created by modern society is discussed, along with the implications of the findings for future practice and research. [source] New Kidney Disease Web SiteNURSING FOR WOMENS HEALTH, Issue 5 2002Article first published online: 9 MAR 200 No abstract is available for this article. [source] Review of the Bank of Japan Web SiteASIAN POLITICS AND POLICY, Issue 2 2010Michael Smitka No abstract is available for this article. [source] Tool Box,Headache Web SitesHEADACHE, Issue 2 2009Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Headache Center, Dartmouth Medical School Co-director, Morris Levin MDAssociate Professor of Neurology No abstract is available for this article. [source] Corporate E-Cruiting: The Construction of Work in Fortune 500 Recruiting Web SitesJOURNAL OF COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION, Issue 1 2005Jun Young Corporate recruitment efforts have evolved from traditional newspaper want ads to highly sophisticated, rhetorically powerful recruiting Web sites or "career sites." This e-cruiting phenomenon offers a unique opportunity not only to examine organizations' persuasive attempts to recruit potential applicants online, but also to uncover contemporary corporate representations of the meaning(s) of work. Using a random sample of recruitment Web sites of Fortune 500 companies, we employ content analysis and rhetorical criticism to catalogue content types, identify persuasive structure, and analyze rhetorical themes in representations of work. The investigation reveals that career sites are not merely places to post job openings, but reflect corporations' attempt to sell a glorified image of work, one which positions workers as powerful actors and employers as kind benefactors. In view of current reports on working conditions, we argue these glorified representations reflect a rhetoric of idealization and discuss potential consequences of such a strategy. [source] "Digital Government" in Japan: A Selective Survey of Japanese Ministry Web SitesASIAN POLITICS AND POLICY, Issue 2 2010Stephanie Assmann First page of article [source] Personal Web Sites of Key Japanese Political Players: A Surprising Lack of Frequent Updating and InteractionASIAN POLITICS AND POLICY, Issue 2 2009Masahiro Matsuura [source] Virtual reality simulations in Web-based science educationCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 1 2002Young-Suk Shin Abstract This article presents the educational possibilities of Web-based science education using a desktop virtual reality (VR) system. A Web site devoted to science education for middle school students has been designed and developed in the areas of earth sciences: meteorology, geophysics, geology, oceanography, and astronomy. Learners can establish by themselves the pace of their lessons using learning contents considered learner level and they can experiment in real time with the concepts they have learned, interacting with VR environments that we provide. A VR simulation program developed has been evaluated with a questionnaire from learners after learning freely on the Web. This study shows that Web-based science education using VR can be effectively used as a virtual class. When we consider the rapid development of VR technology and lowering of cost, the study can construct more immersive environments for the education in the near future. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 10: 18,25, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com.); DOI 10.1002/cae.10014 [source] Learning From the Pros: Influence of Web-Based Expert Commentary on Vicarious Learning About Financial Markets,DECISION SCIENCES JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE EDUCATION, Issue 1 2007Matthew W. Ford ABSTRACT Web-based financial commentary, in which experts routinely express market-related thought processes, is proposed as a means for college students to learn vicariously about financial markets. Undergraduate business school students from a regional university were exposed to expert market commentary from a single financial Web site for a 6-week period. When compared to a control group, students in the experimental group were found to possess higher levels of financial market awareness. Degree of engagement, as approximated by measures of project exposure time and effort, was significantly related to market awareness. Finance majors were found to be more engaged in the process than nonfinance majors. Although this study should be considered exploratory in nature, findings support the notion of using Web-based vicarious learning processes in financial education. Future research can extend the generalizability of these findings, as well as shape vicarious learning mechanisms for use across business disciplines. [source] Student Hits in an Internet-Supported Course: How Can Instructors Use Them and What Do They Mean?DECISION SCIENCES JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE EDUCATION, Issue 2 2003Andrew, Ellen Baugher Varanelli Weisbord ABSTRACT The world of education is changing as Web-based technology and courseware are increasingly used for delivery of course material. In this environment, instructors may need new measures for determining student involvement, and ultimately student performance. This study examines whether hits to a Web site have any value for predicting student performance in a traditional course supported by Web activities. Total Hits at the end of the semester was used as one measure. Hit Consistency, determined by assigning a 0 when no hits occurred between class meetings and by assigning a 1 when one or more hits occurred between class meetings, was another. Hit Consistency was significantly correlated with course average (r= .37, p < .001) for 108 students in two course sections. Hit Consistency started to show a significant relationship with course average by the third week (or class). Total Hits was not found to significantly correlate with course average (r= .08, p > .05) at the end of the semester or during any week. These results suggest that students who consistently access a Web site will perform better than those who do not. When Hit Consistency and Total Hits were entered as independent variables into a stepwise regression with course average as the dependent variable, the model was enhanced by the addition of Total Hits after Hit Consistency was entered (R= .43, p < .001). Hierarchical regression analysis in which cumulative grade point average was entered as the first controlling variable suggested that online access may go beyond the predictive value of achievement alone for predicting course performance with Hit Consistency appearing to be the dominant causal variable. [source] Chairperson and Faculty Gender in Academic Emergency Medicine DepartmentsACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 8 2006David Cheng MD Objectives: Despite the influx of female physicians in academic medicine departments, there are a small number of women in faculty and departmental leadership positions in emergency medicine (EM). The objective of this study was to determine if the gender of the chairperson of an academic EM department is associated with the gender of the residency program director (RPD) and gender proportion of its faculty. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 133 academic EM departments using the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine online residency catalog, program Web site, or e-mail. Main outcome measures were proportion of female EM faculty and gender of the RPD. Results: Data were available for 133 academic departments. Women chaired 7.5% (n= 10) of departments and comprised 22.3% of all faculty and 15.0% (n= 20) of RPD positions. EM departments that were chaired by women had a significantly higher percentage of female faculty compared with those led by men (31% vs. 22%; p = 0.01). Similarly, departments that were chaired by women had a significantly higher proportion of female RPDs compared with those chaired by men (50% vs. 12%; p < 0.01). Compared with departments chaired by men, the RPD was 5.0 times (95% confidence interval = 1.9 to 27.8; p < 0.01) more likely to be a woman if the chairperson was also a woman. Conclusions: An academic EM department was more likely to have a higher proportion of female faculty and a female RPD when the department chairperson was female. [source] Post-thyroid FNA testing and treatment options: A synopsis of the National Cancer Institute Thyroid Fine Needle Aspiration State of the Science Conference,,DIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 6 2008Lester J. Layfield M.D. Abstract The National Cancer Institute (NCI) sponsored the NCI Thyroid Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) State of the Science Conference on October 22,23, 2007 in Bethesda, MD. The 2-day meeting was accompanied by a permanent informational Web site and several on-line discussion periods between May 1 and December 15, 2007 (http://thyroidfna.cancer.gov). This document addresses follow-up procedures and therapeutic options for suggested diagnostic categories. Follow-up options for "nondiagnostic" and "benign" thyroid aspirates are given. The value of ultrasound examination in the follow-up of "nondiagnostic" and "benign" thyroid aspirates is discussed. Ultrasound findings requiring reaspiration or surgical resection are described as are the timing and length of clinical and ultrasonographic surveillance for cytologically "benign" nodules. Options for surgical intervention are given for the diagnostic categories of "atypical/borderline," "follicular neoplasm," "suspicious for malignancy" and "malignant" (http://thyroidfna.cancer.gov/pages/info/agenda/). Diagn. Cytopathol. 2008;36:442,448. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] LCAccess: A global directory of life cycle assessment resourcesENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, Issue 1 2003Mary Ann Curran LCAccess is an EPA-sponsored Web site intended to promote the use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in business decision-making by facilitating access to data sources useful in developing a life cycle inventory (LCI). While LCAccess does not, itself, contain data, it is a searchable global directory of potential data sources, and serves as a central source for LCA information. [source] Development of an interactive decision-support system on a Web site for control of Mycosphaerella graminicola in winter wheat,EPPO BULLETIN, Issue 1 2000J.-M. Moreau A decision-support system (DSS) has been developed in Belgium to help farmers and advisers to manage Mycosphaerella graminicola in winter wheat during stem elongation. The system calculates in real time the interactions between winter wheat and M. graminicola development to simulate disease progression in the canopy in order to guide field observations on the different leaf layers and determine the risks for the crop. It has been structured to run with individual field input and local hourly meteorological data. An interactive Internet version of the system has been developed to facilitate the delivery of information. It allows users to base their decisions on advice tailored to conditions in their own fields, as well as to recent and validated hourly local meteorological data that is regularly updated on the server computer. [source] Teaching oral surgery to undergraduate students: a pilot study using a Web-based practical courseEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DENTAL EDUCATION, Issue 3 2003Luciana Corrêa The Internet has been used in oral surgery teaching mainly to deliver learning material across the World Wide Web and to make use of online interactivity resources in everyday surgical practice, such as by e-mails, discussion groups, and chats. The aim of this paper is to describe and evaluate a Web-based practical course on oral surgery principles, which was applied to undergraduate students. This course was investigated as a distance learning simulation in which the student would be performing surgical activities at home, and the teacher and the school environment would be absent. A Web site was created containing the course material. For this study, the students participated in the Web-based course in a multimedia lab equipped with computers and Internet, internal sound system and TV circuits. In the event of significant mistakes by students, the TV circuit could be used to show the correct procedure for all the participants at the same time. Microcameras were used to monitor the student's actions during the Internet use. Students' impressions were determined by a questionnaire. Computer manipulation with ease and antiergonomic postures were observed. We concluded that distance learning courses with practical modules must be considered as a special type of educational modality, with reference to the relationship between the student and the computer. [source] "Not the Romantic, All Happy, Coochy Coo Experience": A Qualitative Analysis of Interactions on an Irish Parenting Web SiteFAMILY RELATIONS, Issue 1 2010Ellen Brady Support groups in online communities provide an anonymous place to exchange information and advice. Previous research has suggested that these groups offer a safe, nonjudgmental forum for new parents to share experiences and interact anonymously. This study investigated how participants in online parenting groups experience support via the Internet and what types of support they receive. All posts made over a 2-week period on the parenting-related discussion boards of an Irish parenting Web site were analyzed using content and thematic analyses. Exploratory, semistructured interviews were also conducted with 2 forum participants to discuss their experience of using the Web site. Themes uncovered from the data gathered included the attempts by posters to dispel the myths surrounding motherhood and the recognition of the superiority of the mother as caregiver. The results revealed that the parenting Web site was seen as a safe, supportive space, in which mothers could develop an enhanced frame of reference in which to better understand the role of parenting. The role of online support groups as a viable solution to the decreasing social networks created by modern society is discussed, along with the implications of the findings for future practice and research. [source] ParentLink: A Model of Integration and Support for Parents,FAMILY RELATIONS, Issue 3 2000Carol Mertensmeyer ParentLink represents a collective of Missouri organizations and agencies striving to simplify parents' access to research-based information, services, and problem-solving support pertaining to parenting. It is based on systems theory (von Bertalanffy, 1981) and, more specifically, the ecology of human development (Bronfenbrenner, 1979). A comprehensive array of technologies augments ParentLink professionals' outreach to parents and other citizenry. For parents, the access can be as simple as a telephone call to ParentLink's WarmLine professionals. Other doorways for information and support include ParentLink's Web site, other Web applications, media campaigns, and forthcoming neighborhood-based Parenting Corners. Information gathered from parents and communities about parenting issues will in turn shape future programs and policies. [source] Talent sourcing solutions in today's fragmented media realityGLOBAL BUSINESS AND ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE, Issue 3 2009Matthew Adam Gone are the days when a company could count on the Sunday classifieds to reach all its potential job candidates. Job seekers are using a plethora of new media tools, and it's time for employers to do the same. The author discusses recruiting strategies for conveying the employment brand, creating positive touch points to build relationships with job seekers not yet ready to apply, and reaching the large field of passive candidates not yet actively seeking a new employer. The author also discusses ways to turn a company jobs Web site into a powerful recruiting platform and provides ten online tools for driving applicant traffic to the site. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Black and white and read all over: Race differences in reactions to recruitment Web sitesHUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2008Caren B. Goldberg Based on signaling theory, this study examines the impact of Web-site design and content characteristics on applicants' intentions to pursue employment, the mediating effects of engagement with the Web site and attitude toward the organization, and the moderating effects of applicant race on these relationships. The design characteristics of ease of use and usefulness impact attraction indirectly through Web-site engagement and attitude toward the organization. Further, Web sites' parasocial interaction (allowance for two-way communication) predicts intentions to pursue both directly and indirectly through engagement and attitude toward the organization. Unexpectedly, diversity statements did not impact attraction in the full sample. Multigroup analyses revealed that many of the paths between the predictors of parasocial interaction and (to a lesser extent) diversity statements and the outcomes differed by race, with stronger effects observed for blacks than whites. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Internet job hunting: A field study of applicant experiences with on-line recruitingHUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2002Daniel C. Feldman This field study examines the experiences of managers and professionals searching for jobs via the Internet. Results suggest that facility with Internet navigation is significantly associated with the amount of general job searching, particularly for those who want to explore job options initially in private without fear of retribution from supervisors. The data also suggest that managers and professionals are more likely to use the Internet for job hunting when the geographical scope of the job hunt is wide, when a major salary increase is desired, and when both small and large firms are being considered as potential employers. Use of the Internet is perceived as a somewhat less effective job search strategy than personal networking, but far superior to searching for jobs through newspaper ads and "cold calling." Major issues found to impede the effectiveness of on-line recruiting are the degree and speed of follow-up on-line applications, lack of specific and relevant job descriptions on a company's Web site, concerns about the security of personal information, and difficulty in customizing, formatting, and downloading resumes to companies' specifications. The article concludes with recommendations for improving the effectiveness of on-line recruiting. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Improving communication between health and infant mental health professionals utilizing ongoing Collaborative Peer Supervision GroupsINFANT MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL, Issue 3 2004Michael Thomasgard This article discusses the use of Collaborative Peer Supervision Groups (CPSG) to promote ongoing professional development for those who work with infants, toddlers, and their families. Our model's strength and clinical utility result from its three major components: (a) a relationship-based perspective that acknowledges the important role that feelings and emotions play across the life span, (b) a peer supervision model that helps to ensure that no individual or discipline is "the expert," and (c) a collaborative case-based continuing-education experience. Salient features of forming and maintaining a CPSG group are discussed including access to a Web site containing many key start-up and evaluation materials. Existing barriers to effective communication between disciplines are discussed as are specific methods to structure case data. Additional tools to help anchor a CPSG are considered as are methods of evaluation. Two case presentations are considered to illustrate group process. Lessons learned from such groups are highlighted. Our intent is to provide sufficient background material so that others with a similar interest will be comfortable starting and maintaining a CPSG group on their own. ©2004 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health. [source] Reorganizing web sites based on user access patternsINTELLIGENT SYSTEMS IN ACCOUNTING, FINANCE & MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2002Yongjian Fu In this paper, an approach for reorganizing Web sites based on user access patterns is proposed. Our goal is to build adaptive Web sites by evolving site structure to facilitate user access. The approach consists of three steps: preprocessing, page classification, and site reorganization. In preprocessing, pages on a Web site are processed to create an internal representation of the site. Page access information of its users is extracted from the Web server log. In page classification, the Web pages on the site are classified into two categories, index pages and content pages, based on the page access information. After the pages are classified, in site reorganization, the Web site is examined to find better ways to organize and arrange the pages on the site. An algorithm for reorganizing Web sites has been developed. Our experiments on a large real data set show that the approach is efficient and practical for adaptive Web sites. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A meta-analysis of the vascular-related safety profile and efficacy of ,-adrenergic blockers for symptoms related to benign prostatic hyperplasiaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 10 2008J. C. Nickel Summary Objectives:, To evaluate the safety profile and efficacy of ,1-adrenergic receptor blockers (A1Bs) currently prescribed for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Data sources:, A systematic literature search of MEDLINE, the Cochrane Database and the Food and Drug Administration Web site through December 2006 identified double-blinded, prospective, placebo-controlled trials, evaluating agents commercially available by prescription for the symptomatic treatment of BPH. Review methods:, Data were reviewed by two investigators with the use of a standardised data abstraction form. Studies were evaluated for methodological quality using the Jadad scale. Studies with a score of < 3 were considered of weaker methodology. Results:, Of 2389 potential citations, 25 were usable for evaluation of safety data, 26 for efficacy. A1B use was associated with a statistically significant increase in the odds of developing a vascular-related event [odds ratio (OR) 2.54; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.00,3.24; p < 0.0001]. The odds of developing a vascular-related adverse event were: alfuzosin, OR 1.66, 95% CI: 1.17,2.36; terazosin, OR 3.71, 95% CI: 2.48,5.53; doxazosin, OR 3.32, 95% CI: 2.10,5.23 and tamsulosin, OR 1.42, 95% CI: 0.99,2.05. A1Bs increased Qmax by 1.32 ml/min (95% CI: 1.07,1.57) compared with placebo. Difference from placebo in American Urological Association symptom index/International Prostate Symptom Score was ,1.92 points (95% CI: ,2.71 to ,1.14). Conclusions:, Alfuzosin, terazosin and doxazosin showed a statistically significant increased risk of developing vascular-related events compared with placebo. Tamsulosin showed a numerical increase that was not statistically significant. All agents significantly improved Qmax and symptom signs compared with placebo. [source] Using the moving average rule in a dynamic web recommendation systemINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS, Issue 6 2007Yi-Jen Su In this, the Information Age, most people are accustomed to gleaning information from the World Wide Web. To survive and prosper, a Web site has to constantly enliven its content while providing various and extensive information services to attract users. The Web Recommendation System, a personalized information filter, prompts users to visit a Web site and browse at a deeper level. In general, most of the recommendation systems use large browsing logs to identify and predict users' surfing habits. The process of pattern discovery is time-consuming, and the result is static. Such systems do not satisfy the end users' goal-oriented and dynamic demands. Accordingly, a pressing need for an adaptive recommendation system comes into play. This article proposes a novel Web recommendation system framework, based on the Moving Average Rule, which can respond to new navigation trends and dynamically adapts recommendations for users with suitable suggestions through hyperlinks. The framework provides Web site administrators with various methods to generate recommendations. It also responds to new Web trends, including Web pages that have been updated but have not yet been integrated into regular browsing patterns. Ultimately, this research enables Web sites with dynamic intelligence to effectively tailor users' needs. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Int Syst 22: 621,639, 2007. [source] Nursing Diagnosis: Is It Time for a New Definition?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING TERMINOLOGIES AND CLASSIFICATION, Issue 1 2008T. Heather Herdman PhD PURPOSE. The Diagnosis Development Committee (DDC) of NANDA International frequently receives proposed "physiologic" and "surveillance diagnosis" submissions that may not meet the current definition of nursing diagnosis (NANDA, 2007, p. 332). There has been a request for a vote on newly proposed definitions of nursing diagnosis, risk diagnosis, and syndromes. The purpose of this article is to provide information which enables members and interested nurses to continue the dialogue and to share their thoughts and also to consider the thoughts and information generated by the participants in the NANDA-I interest survey on the definition of nursing diagnoses. DATA SOURCES. An electronic survey of the current NANDA-I definitions, and potential changes to those definitions, was distributed via the NANDA-I Web site. This article summarizes the overall findings of that survey and provides an overview of commentary received from the 269 participants. CONCLUSIONS. It is necessary to continue the dialogue on this important decision and to provide a mechanism for input from members and interested nurses before reaching any conclusions on this subject. NURSING IMPLICATIONS. NANDA-I has been recognized as the leader in the development and implementation of nursing diagnoses and must act responsibly in assessing the changing and emerging trends in nursing practice and in responding to these trends. [source] Nursing Diagnosis Extension and Classification: Ongoing PhaseINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING TERMINOLOGIES AND CLASSIFICATION, Issue 2003Martha Craft-Rosenberg BACKGROUND The Nursing Diagnosis Extension and Classification Project (NDEC) has been active for almost a decade. The team began with the formation of a team of investigators at The University of Iowa College of Nursing. From 1994 until 2000 the research team consisted of 16 investigators who were experts in nursing care across the lifespan. They also represented expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research. The aims of the NDEC research are to evaluate and revise NANDA diagnoses, to validate the diagnoses using a clinical information system, and to develop candidate diagnoses. MAIN CONTENT POINTS Phase 1 of the NDEC research has yielded 116 refined and developed nursing diagnoses that have been submitted to NANDA. Of these, 65 have been approved and 54 appeared in Nursing Diagnoses: Definitions and Classification, 1999,2000 along with 39 NDEC products. In the 2000,2001 edition, 7 diagnoses refined by NDEC and 7 new diagnoses submitted by NDEC are included. As only about half the NDEC products have appeared in NANDA publications, the three-level review process (Diagnosis Review Committee, membership, and Board) has been discussed with the NANDA board. This request is currently being honored by the Diagnosis Review Committee; however, review by the membership and review by the NANDA board is just beginning to move in this direction. Phase 2, clinical validation of the NDEC work, is being conducted at a long-term care facility. It will also be conducted at a large teaching hospital. All the NDEC refinement and development work has been submitted for clinical validation. Currently validation is planned at the label level only. Phase 3 involves identification of candidate diagnoses. Many of the candidate diagnoses were developed during the concept analysis phase, when NDEC team members identified the need for additional diagnoses. Nurses in practice have submitted other candidate diagnoses. In total 195 candidate diagnoses have been identified and placed into a database. In order for the NDEC team to make decisions regarding priorities for diagnosis development, the diagnoses in the candidate database are compared to diagnoses in other classifications that have already been developed. Several classifications are used for comparison including the Omaha System and the Home Health Care Classification. A large table is used to compare candidate label to other labels. Candidate diagnosis included in other classifications will be given lower priority for development by NDEC. CONCLUSIONS The NDEC work plan includes work on diagnoses to be resubmitted to the NANDA Diagnosis Review Committee. It is hoped that the Web site for NLINKS will facilitate the work of diagnosis refinement and development. NDEC will continue to work with any investigator who is seeking assistance. The last part of the work plan is resource acquisition and recruitment of investigators to continue the refinement and development of diagnoses. [source] An Internet-Based Survey of Icelandic Nurses on Their Use of and Attitudes Toward NANDA, NIC, and NOCINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING TERMINOLOGIES AND CLASSIFICATION, Issue 2003Gyda Bjornsdottir PURPOSE To gain understanding of how Icelandic nurses can be supported during a mandated change to the use of NANDA and NIC in clinical documentation practices. METHODS All members of the Icelandic Nurses Association of working age were invited to participate in an Internet-based survey. Each nurse was assigned a unique password mailed to his/her home along with information on how to access the survey Web site. Each nurse could submit answers only once. On submission, data were automatically coded and saved in a database under encrypted numerical identifiers. FINDINGS A total of 463 nurses (18% response rate) participated by submitting answers. The sample was representative of the population in terms of demographic characteristics. Information resources most valued when planning nursing care included text-based progress notes (77%), nursing care plans (52%), doctor's orders (49%), verbal information (48%), and documented nursing diagnoses (37%). Of the participants, 58% said NANDA was used in their workplace; 28% said no standardized nursing documentation was used; 19% reported using NIC always or sometimes when documenting nursing interventions; and 20% never used NIC. NOC use was reported only by researchers. Of the sample, 86% reported that it is important or necessary for nurses to standardize documentation practices; 30% found NANDA useful in education; 56% found it useful for clinical work; 17% for research; and 7% found it not useful at all. Nine percent believed that NANDA diagnoses were not descriptive enough of patients' problems, and 23% found their wording problematic. No statistically significant differences were found between reported use of or attitudes toward NANDA and NIC when comparing nurses who use electronic patient record systems that support NANDA and NIC documentation and those who use paper documentation only. DISCUSSION The sample may have been somewhat biased toward computer use and classification system use for standardized and computerized documentation. However, results indicate that although Icelandic nurses give free-text progress notes and verbal information a higher priority than nursing diagnoses as an information resource for care planning, they have a positive attitude toward NANDA. NANDA and NIC are still used inconsistently in clinical practice, and 28% of participants claimed not to use any form of standardized documentation. CONCLUSIONS In an effort to standardize clinical documentation among nurses, Icelandic health authorities must follow their documentation mandates with educational and technologic support to facilitate the use of NANDA, NIC, and (after its translation) NOC in nursing documentation practices. Electronic patient record system developers must find ways to further facilitate standardized nursing documentation because currently there seems to be no difference between users and nonusers in terms of how they use NANDA and NIC in their documentation practices. [source] A Comparison of Web Sites Used to Manage and Present Home Blood Pressure ReadingsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPERTENSION, Issue 6 2010Birju Patel BS J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2010;12:389,395. ©2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Home blood pressure (HBP) monitoring is now recommended as a routine component of blood pressure management in patients with known or suspected hypertension. Over the last few years, a large number of Web sites, commonly termed Personal Health Records, have been developed so that patients can manage and present HBP readings. The objective of this report is to describe and compare these Web sites. A list of 33 desirable Web site features, organized into 4 categories, was developed. Between June and August of 2009, a total of 60 Web sites was identified, of which 20 were free or free to try. Each of the 20 Web sites displayed HBP readings in tabular and graphical formats, most offered an option to print results in tabular (70%) and graphical (70%) form, and many (47%) could download HBP data from Microsoft HealthVault. In contrast, none of the Web sites directly linked with common electronic medical records. Overall, Web sites offered between 41% and 77% of the 33 features considered desirable. In conclusion, there is considerable variation in available features on Web sites used to manage HBP data. Information presented in this report should be useful to physicians and patients in selecting a Web site for managing and presenting HBP readings and ultimately improving blood pressure control. [source] Weapons of Magic: Afghan Women Asserting Voice via the NetJOURNAL OF COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION, Issue 2 2003Beverly Bickel In the global struggle over discourse and knowledge after 9/11, the voices of otherwise silenced women in Afghanistan were significantly amplified on the Internet. RAWA.org demonstrates how a Web site contended with discourses of fundamentalism and war while envisioning democracy and constructing new leadership identities for women. [source] |