Mining Perioperative Data for Business Process Analysis and Redesign: A Case Study Perspective

This study examines data mining as an extension of system design to support continuous process improvement. This paper identifies how dynamic technological activities of synthesis, analysis, and evaluation can highlight complex relationships within integrated information systems through existing patterns of associated organizational data. The identification of data patterns and subsequent human contextual understanding are contributing factors that yield business process redesign opportunity and re-enforce continuous process improvement within the perioperative services of a hospital. Based on a 72- month longitudinal study of a large 909 registered-bed teaching hospital, this case study investigates the operationalization of data mining in business process redesign as a method to identify, qualify, understand, and capture benefits from continuous process improvement. The theoretical and practical implications and/or limitations of this study’s results are also discussed with respect to practitioners and researchers alike

Mobile Application: Inductions in a Retail Company

Currently, most companies have an induction process whenever they hire a new employee. This implies a constant expense, but for some companies, the induction process only consists of assigning one of the company's internal workers to be in charge of the new worker and teach him the functions that correspond to him; this usually causes the new worker to have a poor performance in the first month of work. This research aims to design a mobile application to improve the induction process and therefore improve the performance of new workers from the first month of work. The methodology used was Design Thinking, which allowed the evaluation of different ideas and then implementation in a solution, prioritizing the user experience and achieving the development of the mobile application. A test was conducted on a population of 43 users, using questionnaires to gather information on their experience, satisfaction, and application approval. As a result, the surveyed users showed a high level of acceptance with respect to the three dimensions of the application: design, effectiveness, and induction control

Behaviour change strategies for reducing blood pressure-related disease burden: findings from a global implementation research programme.

The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases comprises the majority of the world's public research funding agencies. It is focussed on implementation research to tackle the burden of chronic diseases in low- and middle-income countries and amongst vulnerable populations in high-income countries. In its inaugural research call, 15 projects were funded, focussing on lowering blood pressure-related disease burden. In this study, we describe a reflexive mapping exercise to identify the behaviour change strategies undertaken in each of these projects.Using the Behaviour Change Wheel framework, each team rated the capability, opportunity and motivation of the various actors who were integral to each project (e.g. community members, non-physician health workers and doctors in projects focussed on service delivery). Teams then mapped the interventions they were implementing and determined the principal policy categories in which those interventions were operating. Guidance was provided on the use of Behaviour Change Wheel to support consistency in responses across teams. Ratings were iteratively discussed and refined at several group meetings.There was marked variation in the perceived capabilities, opportunities and motivation of the various actors who were being targeted for behaviour change strategies. Despite this variation, there was a high degree of synergy in interventions functions with most teams utilising complex interventions involving education, training, enablement, environmental restructuring and persuasion oriented strategies. Similar policy categories were also targeted across teams particularly in the areas of guidelines, communication/marketing and service provision with few teams focussing on fiscal measures, regulation and legislation.The large variation in preparedness to change behaviour amongst the principal actors across these projects suggests that the interventions themselves will be variably taken up, despite the similarity in approaches taken. The findings highlight the importance of contextual factors in driving success and failure of research programmes. Forthcoming outcome and process evaluations from each project will build on this exploratory work and provide a greater understanding of factors that might influence scale-up of intervention strategies

Participatory Analysis of the Use and Impact of the Fairtrade Premium

Researchers from LISIS conducted a mixed-methods-based study to analyze how the Fairtrade Premium has been used by Fairtrade organizations and how it generates benefits for Fairtrade producers and their communities. Five cases were explored: a coffee/cocoa small-scale producer organization (SPO) in Peru, a cocoa SPO in Côte d'Ivoire, a banana SPO in Ecuador, a banana SPO in Peru and a flower plantation in Kenya. Using a combination of analysis of data from literature and the case studies, the researchers looked at four characteristics of Fairtrade Premium -- use, participation, accountability, and function -- as well as barriers and enablers for effective Premium use. Finally, the researchers analysed the pathways from Premium investment to six Fairtrade impacts (related to income, gender equality, environmental sustainability, dignity and voice for producers, transparency, and fairness and sustainability of business practices, policy and societal norms). The study provides insights that can enable farmers and workers to make transparent and informed decisions about their Premium use

protocol for a living systematic review

Funding Information: This study was funded by the Solidarity Fund, through a grant administered by the World Health Organization. Publisher Copyright: ©Ana Paula Cavalcante de Oliveira, Mariana Lopes Galante, Leila Senna Maia, Isabel Craveiro, Alessandra Pereira da Silva, Ines Fronteira, Raphael Chança, Paulo Ferrinho, Mario Dal Poz.Background: Countries and health systems have had to make challenging resource allocation and capacity-building decisions to promote proper patient care and ensure health and care workers’ safety and well-being, so that they can effectively address the present COVID-19 pandemic as well as upcoming public health problems and natural catastrophes. As innovations are already in place and updated evidence is published daily, more information is required to inform the development and implementation of policies and interventions to improve health and care workforce capacity to address the COVID-19 pandemic response. Objective: The objective of this protocol review is to identify countries’ range of experiences with policies and management interventions that can improve health and care workers’ capacity to address the COVID-19 pandemic response and synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of the interventions. Methods: We will conduct a living systematic review of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies and gray literature (technical and political documents) published in English, French, Hindi, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish between January 1, 2000, and March 1, 2022. The databases to be searched are MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, SCOPUS, and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature. In addition, the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Research Database and the websites of international organizations (International Labour Organization, Economic Co-operation and Development, and The Health System Response Monitor) will be searched for unpublished studies and gray literature. Data will be extracted from the selected documents using an electronic form adapted from the Joanna Briggs Institute quantitative and qualitative tools for data extraction. A convergent integrated approach to synthesis and integration will be used. The risk of bias will be assessed with Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools, and the certainty of the evidence in the presented outcomes will be assessed with the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation. Results: The database and gray literature search retrieved 3378 documents. Data are being analyzed by 2 independent reviewers. The study is expected to be published by the end of 2023 in a peer-reviewed journal. Conclusions: This review will allow us to identify and describe the policies and strategies implemented by countries and their effectiveness, as well as identify gaps in the evidence.publishersversionpublishe

CASCon 2022

CASCon showcases the work of Sacred Heart University faculty from multiple disciplines. The conference emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of faculty scholarship and reaffirms the College’s commitment to undergraduate research. 6th Annual College of Arts & Sciences Conference (CASCon) on Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Economic evaluations addressing diagnosis and treatment strategies for neglected tropical diseases: an overview

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are those affecting vulnerable people and causing additional social and economic burden. The aim of this study was to carry out a general overview of the health economic assessments involving the diagnosis and treatment of six NTDs: cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), Chagas disease, cysticercosis, filariasis, schistosomiasis and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). The literature search was based on two of the main medical literature databases (Medline and SciELO) and identified 46 studies. Twenty-six studies (57%) addressed therapeutic strategies, while other 20 (43%) assessed diagnostic or both diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The studies were published between 1994 and 2021, and 57% of them (26/46) were carried out in four countries. Cost-effectiveness analyses were conducted in 59% (27/46) of the studies. Economic studies of NTDs have timidly increased in recent years. Despite the improvement of analytical methods, completeness and accuracy of information, there are few new technologies applied to NTDs and public health systems. In addition, economic studies for NTDs are concentrated in a few countries. Thus, this review points out the need for investment in research, development and training of human resources dedicated to the economic analysis in health, especially on NTDs, as a strategy to reduce inequalities by optimizing the use of health resources