1,721,065 research outputs found
Measuring Metacognition in Cancer: Validation of the Metacognitions Questionnaire 30 (MCQ-30)
No full textObjective
The Metacognitions Questionnaire 30 assesses metacognitive beliefs and processes which are central to the metacognitive model of emotional disorder. As recent studies have begun to explore the utility of this model for understanding emotional distress after cancer diagnosis, it is important also to assess the validity of the Metacognitions Questionnaire 30 for use in cancer populations.
Methods
229 patients with primary breast or prostate cancer completed the Metacognitions Questionnaire 30 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale pre-treatment and again 12 months later. The structure and validity of the Metacognitions Questionnaire 30 were assessed using factor analyses and structural equation modelling.
Results
Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses provided evidence supporting the validity of the previously published 5-factor structure of the Metacognitions Questionnaire 30. Specifically, both pre-treatment and 12 months later, this solution provided the best fit to the data and all items loaded on their expected factors. Structural equation modelling indicated that two dimensions of metacognition (positive and negative beliefs about worry) were significantly associated with anxiety and depression as predicted, providing further evidence of validity.
Conclusions
These findings provide initial evidence that the Metacognitions Questionnaire 30 is a valid measure for use in cancer populations
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
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
Pathways to colorectal cancer screening in Hull : a complexity informed configurational approach
Full text linkIn terms of its colorectal cancer profile, Hull is among the worst cities in the UK. A considerable number of colorectal cancer cases in Hull are diagnosed in emergency departments and in their late stages. Several modalities of screening tests (e.g. Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)) are offered in order to detect cancer cases in their early days of development when treatment is more feasible. However, the overall rate of screening is far from optimal and is even lower among people of lower socioeconomic status in Hull. Despite Hull having such an unacceptable profile of colorectal cancer, very few studies have investigated the reasons behind screening behaviour and its unequal distribution in Hull. This study, therefore, aimed to understand the reasons behind screening behaviour and its inequalities in this city. Unlike conventional research focusing on the impact of single psychosocial factors on screening, we used a complexity-informed configurational approach, called Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), to understand the configurations of conditions that produce screening behaviour. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 people from the most and least deprived neighbourhoods in Hull to gather the required data. A thematic content analysis was undertaken to discover the main themes (conditions) that were reported as the determinants of screening by participants. Various configurations of these conditions (complex solutions) were shown by QCA to be sufficient for production of outcome (screening) among the rich and poor. Interestingly, the number of configurations for production of outcome negation (lack of screening) was higher among the poor. Moreover, minimization of complex solutions showed that motivation is the most important (highly necessary and sufficient) condition influencing the screening decision in Hull, regardless of socioeconomic status. Therefore, motivation-focused interventions should be in the first line of interventions to increase screening rates and redress inequalities in this city. However, alongside specific attention to motivation and by taking a complex configurational approach, complex interventions should be designed to address the revealed configurations in each specific socioeconomic context within the city
Using significant event analysis and individual audit and feedback to develop strategies to improve recognition and referral of lung and colorectal cancer at an individual general practice level
Full text linkIntroduction: The lifetime risk of developing cancer is 50%. Whilst cancer survival rates are increasing, data suggests UK survival is lower than comparable countries. There is a growing evidence base to suggest cancer survival is linked at least in part, to the early recognition and referral of symptoms in primary care. The role of primary care is vital with 85% of cancers diagnosed following presentation to primary care. Significant event analyses (SEAs) are an effective tool to learn detailed lessons about the primary care interval and SEA research completed so far highlights the importance of safety netting.Method: The research within the thesis was informed by two theories of behaviour change, the Behaviour Change Wheel and Normalisation Process Theory. The methods were split in to three distinct sections. Firstly, a scoping review of safety netting was undertaken. Secondly, the recognition and referral of lung and colorectal cancer symptoms in primary care was investigated using SEAs. Finally, the SEA data generated was used in an audit and feedback intervention to develop a series of action plans.Findings: The definition and content of safety netting was developed. SEAs demonstrated the importance of safety netting in improving the primary care interval, but also highlighted the role of investigations, patient factors and comorbidities. SEA data was used to develop interventions which were accepted by primary care staff. Result synthesis showed the importance of safety netting and led to the development of a model.Discussion: The importance of safety netting has been highlighted throughout the thesis. Further research is needed to evaluate the model developed. Opportunities for improving the primary care interval were highlighted. Developing interventions through audit and feedback with SEAs is feasible, and is accepted by primary care staff. The thesis has left multiple unanswered questions and could pave the way for a larger, more robust study based on the methods and techniques demonstrated
Pathways to colorectal cancer screening in Hull : a complexity informed configurational approach
No full textIn terms of its colorectal cancer profile, Hull is among the worst cities in the UK. A considerable number of colorectal cancer cases in Hull are diagnosed in emergency departments and in their late stages. Several modalities of screening tests (e.g. Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)) are offered in order to detect cancer cases in their early days of development when treatment is more feasible. However, the overall rate of screening is far from optimal and is even lower among people of lower socioeconomic status in Hull. Despite Hull having such an unacceptable profile of colorectal cancer, very few studies have investigated the reasons behind screening behaviour and its unequal distribution in Hull. This study, therefore, aimed to understand the reasons behind screening behaviour and its inequalities in this city. Unlike conventional research focusing on the impact of single psychosocial factors on screening, we used a complexity-informed configurational approach, called Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), to understand the configurations of conditions that produce screening behaviour. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 people from the most and least deprived neighbourhoods in Hull to gather the required data. A thematic content analysis was undertaken to discover the main themes (conditions) that were reported as the determinants of screening by participants. Various configurations of these conditions (complex solutions) were shown by QCA to be sufficient for production of outcome (screening) among the rich and poor. Interestingly, the number of configurations for production of outcome negation (lack of screening) was higher among the poor. Moreover, minimization of complex solutions showed that motivation is the most important (highly necessary and sufficient) condition influencing the screening decision in Hull, regardless of socioeconomic status. Therefore, motivation-focused interventions should be in the first line of interventions to increase screening rates and redress inequalities in this city. However, alongside specific attention to motivation and by taking a complex configurational approach, complex interventions should be designed to address the revealed configurations in each specific socioeconomic context within the city
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