1,186,396 research outputs found
Data Accuracy and Completeness of Monthly Midwifery Returns Indicators of Ejisu Juaben Health Directorate of Ghana
The broad range of activities contained in the provision of Primary Health Care (PHC) places a burden on providers to make optimal use of limited resources to achieve maximal health benefit to the population served. All too often, ad hoc decisions and personal preferences guide PHC resource allocations, making accountability for results impossible. Problems constraining Routine Health Information System (RHIS) performance in low-income countries include: poor data quality; limited use of available information; weaknesses in how data are analyzed and poor RHIS management practices. This study sought to investigate these constraints. A non-experimental before and after study involving bassline assessment of data accuracy and completeness, application of innovative strategies such as mentoring and coaching of Health Information Officers in data quality improvement process. Coincidentally, the intervention improved both data accuracy and completeness performance significantly among the participating facilities. The outstanding performance may be attributed to management's new orientation and growing interest towards quality data. Engaging frontline staff in data quality improvement work and provision of regular feedback leads to improvement in data accuracy and completeness. This has implications for decision-making and resource allocation, especially in low-income countries, where the routine health information management system relies heavily on paper work
Participation of employees in the making of marketing decisions in enterprises in Serbia
Contemporary approaches to the analysis of business activities of modern organizational systems are focusing on human resources and considering them the most important property. Participation of employees in the decision-making process contributes to the improvement of company's performances, and also to the satisfaction and motivation of employees. Objective of this research paper is to point out to the significance of employees' participation in the making of strategic decisions in an enterprise and to examine the share of employees in the making of marketing decisions in Serbia's economy. Through empirical analysis presented in this work, we analyzed the level of involvement of employees in the process of making marketing decisions through the presentation of their attitudes depending on their personal characteristics, type of organization and their position in the organization. The results obtained say that there is room for increasing the level of employees' involvement in the process of making marketing decisions, as well as the influence of age and hierarchical positions on the possibility of influencing the decision-making process
Educational policy, policy appropriation and Grameen Bank higher education financial aid policy process
The paper talks about higher educational polices and their process of policy appropriations, policy as practices, policy as symbolic, policy as rituals, policy as myths, policy backward- mapping and policy-forward mapping, multi-stage policy implementation process, street-bureaucrats planners, and policy reform process. It critically looks at pros-and-corns of different educational policy theories and their applications in education, and the higher education student financial aid different policies, strategies and products and their impact on the college students. The paper also narrates the higher educational policies and methods of need-based, merit-based, means-test-based grants allocation and loan disbursement and their impact on student academic achievements. Moreover, it discusses the policy process model that has both agendas and multiple streams that consider looking at policy designing problems, solutions of the problems and their usefulness to SES students. Additionally, the paper narrates the Grameen Bank higher education student loan policy making process, although there is no higher education student financial aid services are not exist in Bangladesh. Literature reviews, conversations with higher education students, contextual analysis, and the author personal working experience incorporate here. The study finds for policy improvement, policy analysis is vital because policy analysis can explores usefulness of the policy for public well being and for effectiveness of the policy appropriation.Center for Social Economy Learning and Workplace, University of Toronto. -- York Center for Asia Research, York University. -- Indiana University Bloomington
Using Reflective Thinking Skills for Education Quality Improvement in Nigeria
This paper focused on using reflective thinking skills for education quality improvement in Nigeria. Education was considered in this paper as a process of learning that assists in the provision of suitable skills, training the youths for economic, social cultural and political responsibilities in transmission and transformation of social, economic, and cultural structure from generation to generation. The term quality was opined as the determination of gradations based on standard of excellence beneath which a mark of inferiority is imposed or adduced and above which grades of superiority are defined. Reflective thinking involves personal consideration of one's own personal achievements and failures and asks what worked, what didn't and what needs improvement. Reflective thinking is most important in prompting learning at a time of complex solving situations due to the fact that it avails the opportunity to go backwards and think about how they actually to solve problems and how a particular set of problem solving strategies is appreciated for achieving their goals. In fact reflective thinking is a Part of the critical thinking process of analyzing, evaluating, and making judgment about what has happened. It is the recommendation of this paper that the teachers should be involved in facilitating the development of reflective thinking in students. Keywords: Education, Reflective thinking, Quality improvement, Thinking skill
Reducing inappropriate hypnotic prescribing using a quality improvement initiative in a rural practice
Context
This improvement project was set in a single general practice in rural Lincolnshire, East Midlands, UK. All doctors and practice staff were actively engaged in reducing inappropriate long term prescribing of hypnotic drugs in the practice population as part of a Quality Improvement Collaborative (QIC).
Problem
Hypnotic drugs are only licensed for short term use but inappropriate long-term prescribing of hypnotics is common. Evidence from previous studies shows that hypnotics have limited therapeutic value and potential for significant adverse cognitive and psychiatric effects. Although there is evidence for hypnotic drug withdrawal programmes there have been few improvement projects showing whether and how this might work in practice.
Assessment of problem and analysis of its causes
Baseline rates of hypnotic prescribing were analysed and charted using statistical process control (SPC) methods. Patients on repeat prescriptions of hypnotic drugs were identified from the practice database. Causes, solutions and barriers were determined using surveys and focus groups of patients and staff. A withdrawal programme was implemented for all patients on long term hypnotics by writing to patients, arranging a consultation, making a detailed assessment and using techniques such as tapering doses of drugs and using cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBTi) during general practice consultations. The improvement was supported by a QIC called REST (Resources for Effective Sleep Treatment) which supported the practice team to implement sleep assessment and management tools using plan-do-study-act cycles, process mapping and new protocols.
Strategy for change
The change was coordinated in the practice over six months, with each practitioner maintaining an agreed and consistent approach for managing sleep problems. All staff including doctors, nurses, administrative staff and practice manager took part. Patients were informed of the planned alteration to their treatment for their sleeping problem via a letter detailing exactly how the new regime would be implemented alongside the reasons for this. Patients were offered an appointment to discuss the proposed changes with their GP and all did so.
Measurement of improvement
We measured improvement by analysing prescribing rates using statistical process control charts. We also surveyed patients and conducted a focus group to explore the patientsâ personal experiences of the new service the support they received during the withdrawal programme and how they manage their sleep now.
Effects of changes
There was a significant reduction in hypnotic prescribing of benzodiazepines (664.9 to 62.0 ADQ per 1000-STAR-PU) and Z drugs (2156.7 to 120.1A ADQ per STAR-PU) in the practice over the six months of the project and this improvement has been sustained since the initiative. Some patients were initially unhappy about being taken off sleeping tablets but with the approach described were successfully withdrawn. No patients are now prescribed long term benzodiazepines or Z drugs for sleep difficulties in the practice. Psychological treatments for the management of sleep problems are used first-line instead of hypnotics. The transition from hypnotics to psychological treatments is evidence of improvement in patient care.
Lessons learnt
It is possible to implement a hypnotic withdrawal programme over a relatively short period of time in general practice using a carefully constructed programme applied consistently by staff comprising a letter to patients, tapering of drugs and CBTi supported through education of practitioners in sleep management and quality improvement methods.
Message for others
Key factors for success in this improvement project were a motivated practice team, a range of solutions which could be adapted locally, expert support on sleep management and quality improvement methods and feedback of results. We will present further data on the experience of patients in this improvement project
Impact of Immersive Training on Senior Chemical Engineering Students\u27 Prioritization of Process Safety Decision Criteria
Every year new safety features and regulations are employed within the process industry to reduce risks associated with operations. Despite these advancements chemical plants remain hazardous places, and the role of the engineer will always involve risk mitigation through real time decision making. Results from a previous study by Kongsvik et al., 2015 indicated that there were three types of decisions in major chemical plants: strategic decisions, operational decisions, and instantaneous decisions. The study showed the importance for improving upon engineersâ operational and instantaneous choices when tasked with quick solutions in the workforce. In this research study, we dive deeper to understand how senior chemical engineering studentsâ prioritize components of decision making such as budget, productivity, relationships, safety, and time, and how this prioritization may change as a result of participation in a digital immersive training environment called Contents Under Pressure. More specifically, we seek to address the following two research questions: (1) How do senior chemical engineering students prioritize safety in comparison to criteria such as budget, personal relationships, plant productivity, and time in a process safety context, and (2) How does senior chemical engineering studentsâ prioritization of decision making criteria (budget, personal relationships, plant productivity, safety, and time) change after exposure to a virtual process safety decision making environment? As part of this study, 187 senior chemical engineering students from three separate institutions completed a pre- and post-reflection survey around their engagement with Contents Under Pressure and asked them to rank their prioritizations of budget, productivity, relationships, safety, and time. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, and Friedman and Wilcoxon-sign-rank post hoc analyses were completed to determine any statistical differences between the rankings of decision making factors before and after engagement with Contents Under Pressure. Simulating process safety decision making with interactive educational supports may increase studentsâ understanding of genuine workplace environments and factors that contribute to process safety, without the real world hazards that result from poor decision making. By understanding how students prioritize these factors, chemical engineering curricula can be adapted to focus on the areas of process safety decision making where students need the largest improvement, thereby better preparing them to enter the engineering workforce
Product development with a focus on attractive product expression: an analysis of case studies
Creating outstanding products is vital for a company's endurance in competitive markets. A mix of functionality, ergonomics, aesthetics, symbols and price aspects all play a role in making a product desirable.Some products carry a personal meaning for its user. Others communicate its user's identity or the company's brand image. This study concentrates on communicative and meaningful aspects in a product's design. It examines how the creation of a communicative design occurs during the new product development process. The present research has an exploratory nature. For the field research, the case study method was chosen and a guideline for semi-directed interviews developed. This interview guideline was used to analyse multiple product development projects in two distinct companies. In two projects, specific attention was given to communicative aspects in the productâs design. These two projects are examined in this paper.In the two selected projects, the product development teams carefully studied the users' preferences for aesthetics and product messages. A user-centred approach was used in both development processes. The choice to purposely improve the communicative value of the product's design was on the one hand influenced by the limited possibilities to create other advantages, such as improving the product's functionality or reducing its cost price. A weakness in the competitor's design strategy allowed the successful improvement of the product's communication on the other hand.User-centred Product ; Design Management Process ; New Product Development Process ; Development Product Expression ; Product Meaning ; Product Language ; Product Value
Arts-Integrated Teaching of English Literature: Using Dance Making Methods to Enhance High School Student Comprehension Of Short Stories And Self-Confidence In Reading Skills
The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefit of utilizing creative dance making methods in the study of literature at the high school level. The researcher developed the following essential questions to investigate how dance making impacts student performance on comprehension questions as well as what impact this has on student confidence and self-efficacy: Q1 What effect does the use of dance making methods have on student comprehension of short stories? Q2 What effect does increasing the amount of dance creation time have on student comprehension of short stories? Q3 What effect does the choreographic process have on student confidence in their own knowledge and critical reading abilities as it relates to the study of English literature? To explore these questions, ten high school students at a private studio participated in a series of three workshops in which they engaged in the creative dance making process to turn their understanding of short stories into movement. The research methods utilized included preand post-tests that were developed by the researcher to address the essential questions. Some limitations of the study included the small number of participants, their level of familiarity with dance making, and the workshop processes being led by the researcher. Furthermore, the research instruments were not tested for reliability or validity. From the analysis of the data, it may be suggested that creative dance making does have a positive impact on student comprehension of short stories. A theme of improvement in student comprehension scores was identified across the three workshops as the amount of dance making time increased. Additionally, the participant response to the impact of creative dance methods on self-confidence in personal reading skills indicated that the creative dance making processes did result in an improvement in student confidence and self-efficacy. The goal of this research was to provide support for the benefits of incorporating dance within the study of core content as well as to reflect the benefit of dance as its own academic subject within the K-12 curriculum
Designing Gender Inclusivity and Equality
In consideration of the labels and definitions of gender identities, and the differences in experience of stasis or fluidity of gender, this paper describes a role for design in the political activities of gender diversity inclusion and equality as a facilitator of open-minded debate and decision-making. The process of design in âenabling the improvement of qualities of lifeâ, can positively transform the way we see, think and behave, and so, not only can it enable creation of products and services to support inclusive practices, it can also be socially innovative in developing new models and policies for inclusion and equality. One particular model is the Gender Cube, which enables individuals to dimensionally define and consider their gender identity rather than seek to fit to a category, labelled by society, with its incumbent expectations.
With consideration of both personal and social constructs of gender, experienced alone at home and socially in our cities, it is argued here that inclusion cannot be seen as simply an attitude of ânot excludingâ, but must actively develop coherence in both perspective and behaviour through mindful acceptance, integration and equality. The limitations of an androcentric, male dominant, binary model, and associated behaviours are discussed, including the need for a more balanced and credible engagement in supporting the design of gender inclusivity, for equality to be achieved for the expressions of the full range of gender identities
Making Connections : A Teaching Strategy To Foster Junior High School Studentsâ Reading Comprehension
Reading is the process of looking at a series of written symbols and getting meaning from them. When we ready, we use our eyes to receive written symbols (letters, punctuation mark and spaces) and we use our brain to convert them into words, sentences and paragraphs that communicate something to us.
According to Spedell (2015), good readers make connections as they read. They can relate the book to their personal experiences (text-to-self), to information from other texts (text-to-text), or from what they know about the world (text-to-world). Making connections was linking what the students read, to what they already know. This strategy helped students comprehend text, by activating their prior knowledge and making meaning of what they read.
This research aimed at finding out the improvement of students in reading comprehension through making connections strategy to eleventh grade students of SMP N 3 Galesong Utara which refers to the familiarity of subject matter of the narrative text in terms of literal comprehension covering main idea and supporting details. The researcher applied pre-experimental design and VIII A class consist of 18 students with 5 men and 13 women as a research subject.
The Result of this research was in main idea, the studentsâ mean score achievement in pre-test was 42.78 becomes 65.83. So, the improvement of studentsâ reading comprehension achievement from pre-test to post-test was 53.88%. In supporting details, the studentsâ mean score achievement in pre-test was 31.39, becomes 44.17. So the improvement of studentsâ reading comprehension achievement from pre-test to post-test was 40, 71%. And the mean score of studentsâ reading comprehension in main idea and supporting details in pre-test 37.08 becomes 55. So the improvement of studentsâ reading comprehension achievement from pre-test to post-test was 48.33
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