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Patient centred care in diagnostic radiography (Part 3): Perceptions of student radiographers and radiography academics
No full textNoAwareness is growing of the importance of patient centered care (PCC) in diagnostic
radiography. PCC is embedded within professional body publications and guidance documents, but there
is limited research evidence exploring the perceptions of student radiographers and radiography
academics.
Methods: This paper reports Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the project from the perspective of radiography
academic and student radiographer participants, and compares these to the perspectives of service users, clinical radiographers and radiography managers reported previously. Stage 1 used an online survey tool to gauge participant agreement with a series of attitudinal statements. Stage 2 used situational vignettes to promote discussion and debate about PCC approaches.
Results: Response rates to the Stage 1 survey were above the minimum threshold, with 50 responses
from student radiographers and 38 responses from radiography academics. Stage 1 participants were
asked to participate in Stage 2 on a voluntary basis. As with service users and service deliverers, care
communication, event interactions and control over environment were the key influences on PCC.
However, students highlighted differences between reported and observed levels of PCC.
Conclusion: There is some way to go to embed PCC in diagnostic radiography practice. As impartial
observers of radiography practice, student radiographers highlight the difference between service users
and service deliverer's perceptions of PCC. Whilst the focus of clinical radiographers remains on efficiency, it is difficult for student radiographers to challenge the accepted norm. Role models are required to promote PCC behaviours and a holistic approach in radiography practice.
Implications for practice: A package of educational support and audit tools will be made available to
support both service deliverers and student radiographers to deliver PC
Medicine information sources used by nurses at the point of care
No full textNoAims: To identify sources of medicine information that nurses use
while administering medicines
Quantitative MRI in myositis patients: comparison with healthy volunteers and radiological visual assessment
Get PDFYesTo assess whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based measurements of T2, fat fraction, diffusion tensor imaging, and muscle volume can detect differences between the muscles of myositis patients and healthy controls, and to identify how they compare with semi-quantitative MRI diagnosis.
Sixteen myositis patients and 16 age- and gender-matched healthy controls underwent MRI of their thigh. Quantitative MRI measurements and radiologists' semi-quantitative scores were assessed. Strength was assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer.
Fat fraction and T2 values were higher in myositis patients whereas muscle volume was lower compared to healthy controls. There was no difference in diffusion. Muscle strength was lower in myositis patients compared to healthy controls. In a subgroup of eight patients, scored as unaffected by radiologists, T2 values were still significantly higher in myositis patients.
Quantitative MRI measurements can detect differences between myositis patients and healthy controls. Changes in the muscles of myositis patients, undetected by visual, semi-quantitative scoring, can be detected using quantitative T2 measurements. This suggests that MRI T2 values may be useful for the management of myositis patients.National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leeds (BRC) and Health Education Englan
Muscle deterioration due to rheumatoid arthritis: assessment by quantitative MRI and strength testing
Get PDFYesRA patients often present with low muscle mass and decreased strength. Quantitative MRI offers a non-invasive measurement of muscle status. This study assessed whether MRI-based measurements of T2, fat fraction, diffusion tensor imaging and muscle volume can detect differences between the thigh muscles of RA patients and healthy controls, and assessed the muscle phenotype of different disease stages.
Thirty-nine RA patients (13 'new RA'-newly diagnosed, treatment naïve, 13 'active RA'-persistent DAS28 >3.2 for >1 year, 13 'remission RA'-persistent DAS28 1 year) and 13 age and gender directly matched healthy controls had an MRI scan of their dominant thigh. All participants had knee extension and flexion torque and grip strength measured.
MRI T2 and fat fraction were higher in the three groups of RA patients compared with healthy controls in the thigh muscles. There were no clinically meaningful differences in the mean diffusivity. The muscle volume, handgrip strength, knee extension and flexion were lower in all three groups of RA patients compared with healthy controls.
Quantitative MRI and muscle strength measurements can potentially detect differences within the muscles between RA patients and healthy controls. These differences may be seen in RA patients who are yet to start treatment, those with persistent active disease, and those who were in clinical remission. This suggests that the muscles in RA patients are affected in the early stages of the disease and that signs of muscle pathology and muscle weakness are still observed in clinical remission.National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leeds Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and Health Education Englan
Public Expenditure and Poverty Reduction: Evidence from Nigeria
Get PDFTheoretical and empirical literature suggest that public expenditure plays very important role in economic growth, especially in the developing countries. Available statistics show that Nigeria’s 5-year average annual real public expenditure/GDP ratio grew during the greater part of the study period 1981-2015, while the 5-year average annual real GDP growth and real GDP per capita growth rates are positive during the same study period, except for 1981-1985 and 1986-1990, respectively. The incidence of poverty, however, maintained upward movement, except for 2006-2010.
The foregoing interactions have been seldom, the focus of empirical studies in Nigeria. This study examines the effects of public expenditure on economic growth and poverty reduction in Nigeria from 1981-2015, using variants of two models and simulation exercise: augmented Solow growth model and growth-poverty model. Real public expenditure/GDP ratio is used as the policy variable and the simulation duration is for 5-years, 2016-2020. We use the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing procedure by Pesaran et al. (2001) to estimate the two models, given that the annual data used for the models’ estimations were integrated of order I(1) and I(0) and small sample size.
The results from the two models confirmed that public expenditure increases economic growth, though not significant, while economic growth does not reduce poverty. The same findings are confirmed through the simulation exercise. We, however, offer measures that would ensure growth and poverty reduction in Nigeria; public expenditure switch that encourages more investments in capital public expenditure, social sector public expenditure and private capital investment.Central Bank of Nigeri
Enhancement of light naphtha quality and environment using new synthetic nano-catalyst for oxidative desulfurization: Experiments and process modeling
Get PDFYesBatch oxidative desulfurization (ODS) process is investigated here for the removal sulfur compound from light naphtha using homemade new nano-catalyst. The catalyst is made of manganese dioxide supported on zeolite nanoparticles which shows an excellent catalytic performance with good impregnation, high activity, good pore size distribution and larger surface area. Different reaction temperature, time and initial sulfur concentration are used to have a deeper insight of the process. The experimental results reveal that the conversion of sulfur compound is increased by increasing the initial sulfur concentration, the reaction temperature and batch time. A mathematical model of the process is developed and validated using the experimental data within gPROMS software with high accuracy. The validated model (errors less than 5% between experimental and predicted results) is then utilized to obtain the optimal operation conditions of the process giving maximum conversion of sulfur (higher than 99%) resulting in an environmentally friendly fuel
Sustainable Renewable Energy Policy on Energy Indicators, Electric Power and Renewable Energy Supply Chains. A study of renewable energy policies, energy indicators and electrical power distribution
Get PDFDue to the result of the sudden fossil fuels over-night price rises of
1973/1974, coupled with the depletion of the traditional energy resources,
many initiatives globally have addressed the efficient use of these resources.
Since then, several renewable energy sources have been introduced as
alternatives to traditional resources to protect environmental resources and
to improve quality of life. Globally, there are more than a quarter of the
human population experiencing an energy crisis, particularly those living
in the rural areas of developing countries. One typical example of this is
Nigeria. This is a country with approximately 80% of her population
consistently relying on combustible biomass from wood and its charcoal
derivative. Nigeria has an abundant amount of both renewable and fossil
fuel resources, but due to the lack of a reasonable energy policy (until
recently), it has concentrated on traditional fossil fuels alone. Renewable
energy is now Globally considered as a solution for mitigating climate
change and environmental pollution. To assess the sustainability of
renewable energy systems, the use of sustainability indicators is often
necessary. These indicators are not only able to evaluate all the
sustainability criteria of the renewable energy sources,1 but also can
provide numerical results of sustainability assessment for different
objective systems
Hospital and care home nurse perspectives on optimising care for people living with dementia who transfer between hospitals and care homes
Get PDFBackground: Transitions out of hospital result in poor outcomes for older
people. Research investigating transitions for care home residents living with
dementia is limited, even though such residents often have multi-morbidities
and frequently use hospital services. Nurses are key care providers. Yet their
perspectives on optimising care for people living with dementia transferring
back to their care home remains under explored.
Aims: This qualitative descriptive study explores hospital and care home
nurses’ perspectives on how they optimise care for people living with
dementia who transfer from hospital back to their care home, and the
alignment of this care with best practice.
Methods: Thirty-three nurses participated in either semi structured
interviews or focus groups. Data were analysed using qualitative content
analysis.
Results: Nurses described four roles: 1) exchanging information, 2)
assessing and meeting needs, 3) working with families and 4) checking and
organising medication. They described care home residents with dementia
as having distinct needs and variation in how they provided care. Nurses
described interdependent roles, but care home nurses were often excluded
from involvement in planning resident’s care on return and were not fully
recognised as members of wider healthcare teams. Facilitators for optimising
care include: nurses understanding the principles of dementia care, nurse
leadership and autonomy, having positive relationships between hospital and
care home nurses and opportunities for joint working. The care practices
nurses described broadly aligned with best practice.
Implications: Hospital and care home nurses require joint working
opportunities to understand their roles and build relationships. Care home
nurses’ status needs to be addressed with action to support their integration
into the wider healthcare system.Alzheimer’s Society (UK
Examining the impact of mobile interactivity on customer engagement in the context of mobile shopping
Get PDFYesPurpose – This study aims to examine the impact of mobile interactivity dimensions (active
control, personalization, ubiquitous connectivity, connectedness, responsiveness, and
synchronicity) on customer engagement.
Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative field survey study was conducted to collect
the required data from actual users of mobile shopping in three countries: Jordan, the United
Kingdom (UK) and Saudi Arabia.
Findings – The results are based on structural equation modelling and support the impact of
five dimensions of mobile interactivity: active control, personalization, ubiquitous
connectivity, responsiveness, and synchronicity.
Research limitations/implications – This study only considered the shopping activities
conducted by mobile channels, while other channels (e.g. online channels, traditional channels,
and social media shopping channels) are not considered. Furthermore, the current model does
not consider the impact of personal factors (e.g. technology readiness, self-efficacy, user
experience). The results of the current study present a foundation that can guide marketers and
practitioners in the area of mobile shopping.
Originality/value – This study enriches the current understanding of the impact of mobile
interactivity on mobile shopping, as well as how mobile interactivity can enhance the level of
customer engagement
Security, culture and human rights in the Middle East and South Asia
No full textNoEuropean countries are dealing with an increasing number of refugees seeking asylum. Country evidence is critical in the assessment of any asylum claim. The purpose of this study is to review some of the common issues which frequently are the focus of asylum appeal cases in relation to applicants from South Asia and the Middle East. The focus is on Pakistan, Iraq and Iran and it covers a range of issues that give rise to asylum claims, such as the general security situation, the risk from terrorism and other forms of political violence, the risk to political opponents of governments, the risks in blood feuds and from the perceived violation of family honour, religious persecution and the risks faced by ethnic minorities. It is a very useful resource to volunteers and professionals involved in supporting asylum seekers