1,720,984 research outputs found
Predicting worsening heart failure hospitalizations in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators: Is it all about alerts? A pooled analysis of nine trials
Full text linkBackground and aims: To predict worsening heart failure hospitalizations (WHFH) in patients with implantable defibrillators and remote monitoring (RM), the HeartInsight algorithm (Biotronik, Berlin, Germany) calculates a heart failure (HF) score combining seven physiologic parameters: 24-hour heart rate (HR), nocturnal HR, HR variability, atrial tachyarrhythmia, ventricular extrasystoles, patient activity, and thoracic impedance. We compared temporal trends of the HF score and its components 12 weeks before a WHFH with 12-week trends in patients without WHFH, to assess whether trends indicate deteriorating HF regardless of alert status. Methods: Data from nine clinical trials were pooled, including 2,050 patients with a defibrillator capable of atrial sensing, ejection fraction ≤ 35%, NYHA class II/III, no long-standing atrial fibrillation, and 369 WHFH from 259 patients. Results: The mean HF score was higher in the WHFH group than in the no WHFH group (42.3 ± 26.1 versus 30.7 ± 20.6, p < 0.001) already at the beginning of 12 weeks. The mean HF score further increased to 51.6 ± 26.8 until WHFH (+22% versus no WHFH group, p = 0.003). As compared to the no WHFH group, the algorithm components either were already higher 12 weeks before WHFH (24 h HR, HR variability, thoracic impedance) or significantly increased until WHFH (nocturnal HR, atrial tachyarrhythmia, ventricular extrasystoles, patient activity). Conclusion: The HF score was significantly higher at, and further increased during 12 weeks before WHFH, as compared to the no WHFH group, with seven components showing different behavior and contribution. Temporal trends of HF score may serve as a quantitative estimate of HF condition and evolution prior to WHFH
Communication Barriers in the selected workgroup
No full textThis thesis deals with communication barriers and their impact on the results of the work process and group climate. It explains the concept of communication, elements of communication process and the basic division of communication, verbal communication, nonverbal communication, effective communication and its elements, requirements for effective communication, communication with managers, managerial communication strategy, the specifics of communication in health care management and internal communication. The thesis further analyzes communication barriers from the perspective of different authors, which is crucial for the practical part, where the results of questionnaire-compiled charts reflecting the different communication barriers from different angles are used. Two sets of questionnaires were developed: one for senior staff and one for subordinates. The group examined was a closed working group in one hospital in the Czech Republic. In the discussion section, results of the research are evaluated and recommendations for the prevention and elimination of the communication barriers are given. The main aim of this work was improvement of communication between employees at all levels and between all levels, increasing the efficiency of manpower and making the working environment more attractive, thus increasing the satisfaction of all employees of this working group
Communication Barriers in the selected workgroup
No full textTato diplomová práce se zabývá komunikačními bariérami a jejich dopadem na výsledky pracovní činnosti a skupinové klima. Objasňuje pojem komunikace, prvky komunikačního procesu, základní dělení komunikace, verbální komunikace, neverbální komunikace, efektivní komunikace a její prvky, požadavky efektivní komunikace, komunikace u manažerů, manažerské komunikační strategie, specifika manažerské komunikace ve zdravotnictví a komunikaci uvnitř podniku. Dále rozebírá komunikační bariéry z pohledu různých autorů, což je stěžejní pro část praktickou, kde jsou pomocí výsledků dotazníků sestaveny grafy, odrážející jednotlivé komunikační bariéry z různých úhlů pohledu. Byly vypracovány dva typy dotazníků: jedny pro nadřízené pracovníky a druhé pro podřízené pracovníky. Zkoumanou skupinou byla uzavřená pracovní skupina jednoho nemocničního zařízení v České republice. V diskusi jsou zhodnoceny výsledky a dána doporučení pro prevenci a eliminaci těchto komunikačních bariér. Hlavním cílem této práce bylo zlepšit komunikaci mezi jednotlivými pracovníky na všech úrovních a mezi všemi úrovněmi, zvýšit efektivitu pracovních výkonů zpříjemněním pracovního klimatu a tím i dosáhnout spokojenosti všech pracovníků této pracovní skupiny.This thesis deals with communication barriers and their impact on the results of the work process and group climate. It explains the concept of communication, elements of communication process and the basic division of communication, verbal communication, nonverbal communication, effective communication and its elements, requirements for effective communication, communication with managers, managerial communication strategy, the specifics of communication in health care management and internal communication. The thesis further analyzes communication barriers from the perspective of different authors, which is crucial for the practical part, where the results of questionnaire-compiled charts reflecting the different communication barriers from different angles are used. Two sets of questionnaires were developed: one for senior staff and one for subordinates. The group examined was a closed working group in one hospital in the Czech Republic. In the discussion section, results of the research are evaluated and recommendations for the prevention and elimination of the communication barriers are given. The main aim of this work was improvement of communication between employees at all levels and between all levels, increasing the efficiency of manpower and making the working environment more attractive, thus increasing the satisfaction of all employees of this working group
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Economic evaluation of the treatment of atrial fibrillation by radiofrequency catheter ablation
No full textThe thesis is focused on the economical evaluation of invasive treatment of atrial fibrillation using radiofrequency catheter ablation in comparison with standard pharmacological therapy. Two groups of patients treated with these methods were studied retrospectively. Effectiveness, number of complications, costs and benefits of pharmacological versus invasive therapy were evaluated. Based on the retrieved data, economical analysis grounded on the cost effectiveness analysis and cost utility analysis was performed. Results were validated using sensitivity analysis and subjected to a thorough discussion. Catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation is more effective but more costly method of treatment compared to the standard pharmacological therapy. Incremental costs per QALY were calculated as 235 104 CZK per case, which makes catheter ablation therapy of atrial fibrillation feasible, more effective and therefore preferred method compared to standard pharmacological therapy, since this number lays well below the threshold of willingness to pay for the specific treatment method, which is 1 000 000 CZK in the Czech Republic. Therefore, catheter ablation treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation seems cost effective intervention compared to conventional pharmacological therapy.Tato diplomová práce provádí ekonomické hodnocení léčby perzistující fibrilacesíní metodou radiofrekvenční katétrové ablace ve srovnání se standardní farmakologickou léčbou. Retrospektivně byly zkoumány dvě skupiny pacientů, které bylyléčeny těmito dvěma porovnávanými metodami. Byla zjišťována účinnost, mírakomplikací, náklady a přínosy těchto dvou metod. Na základě zjištěných dat byloprovedeno ekonomické hodnocení za pomocí analýzy efektivity nákladů a analýzyužitečnosti nákladů. Zjištěné výsledky byly ověřeny analýzou citlivosti a podrobenydiskuzi. Metoda léčby perzistující fibrilace síní katétrovou ablací je metodou účinnější, ale i nákladnější, než je konvenční farmakologická léčba. Inkrementálnínáklady na QALY byly vyčísleny na 235 104 Kč, což z léčby fibrilace síní katétrovouablací činí schůdnou, účinnější a tedy i preferovanou alternativu k farmakologickéléčbě, protože číslo se nachází pod hranicí ochoty platit za zdravotní péči, která jev České republice 1 mil. Kč. Léčba perzistující fibrilace síní katétrovou radiofrekvenční metodou je tedy nákladově efektivní intervencí ve srovnánís farmakologickou léčbou
Economic evaluation of the treatment of atrial fibrillation by radiofrequency catheter ablation
No full textThe thesis is focused on the economical evaluation of invasive treatment of atrial fibrillation using radiofrequency catheter ablation in comparison with standard pharmacological therapy. Two groups of patients treated with these methods were studied retrospectively. Effectiveness, number of complications, costs and benefits of pharmacological versus invasive therapy were evaluated. Based on the retrieved data, economical analysis grounded on the cost effectiveness analysis and cost utility analysis was performed. Results were validated using sensitivity analysis and subjected to a thorough discussion. Catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation is more effective but more costly method of treatment compared to the standard pharmacological therapy. Incremental costs per QALY were calculated as 235 104 CZK per case, which makes catheter ablation therapy of atrial fibrillation feasible, more effective and therefore preferred method compared to standard pharmacological therapy, since this number lays well below the threshold of willingness to pay for the specific treatment method, which is 1 000 000 CZK in the Czech Republic. Therefore, catheter ablation treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation seems cost effective intervention compared to conventional pharmacological therapy.Tato diplomová práce provádí ekonomické hodnocení léčby perzistující fibrilacesíní metodou radiofrekvenční katétrové ablace ve srovnání se standardní farmakologickou léčbou. Retrospektivně byly zkoumány dvě skupiny pacientů, které bylyléčeny těmito dvěma porovnávanými metodami. Byla zjišťována účinnost, mírakomplikací, náklady a přínosy těchto dvou metod. Na základě zjištěných dat byloprovedeno ekonomické hodnocení za pomocí analýzy efektivity nákladů a analýzyužitečnosti nákladů. Zjištěné výsledky byly ověřeny analýzou citlivosti a podrobenydiskuzi. Metoda léčby perzistující fibrilace síní katétrovou ablací je metodou účinnější, ale i nákladnější, než je konvenční farmakologická léčba. Inkrementálnínáklady na QALY byly vyčísleny na 235 104 Kč, což z léčby fibrilace síní katétrovouablací činí schůdnou, účinnější a tedy i preferovanou alternativu k farmakologickéléčbě, protože číslo se nachází pod hranicí ochoty platit za zdravotní péči, která jev České republice 1 mil. Kč. Léčba perzistující fibrilace síní katétrovou radiofrekvenční metodou je tedy nákladově efektivní intervencí ve srovnánís farmakologickou léčbou
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Full text linkWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
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