Prognostic Factors for Quality of Life After Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation in Patients with Chronic Pain: a Systematic Review

Background. Health-related quality of life (hrQoL) is a core outcome in evaluating interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation (IPR). This systematic review aimed to identify prognostic factors for hrQoL at least six months after IPR in chronic pain patients. Methods. A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science and Cochrane CENTRAL until September 2020. Included were prognostic studies on the outcome hrQoL in adults aged 18 to 67 years with chronic pain (excluding malignancies, systemic-, inflammatory or degenerative joint diseases) who had undergone IPR. Studies were assessed with The Quality in Prognostic Studies-tool. Potential prognostic factors at baseline for the domains pain, psychological and physical functioning were qualitatively synthesized for hrQoL. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation was used to evaluate the level of evidence. Results. Fourteen studies on 6,668 participants (mean age 37.4–52.8 y), with musculoskeletal pain/fibromyalgia and a pain duration ranging between 13.1 and 177.4 months were considered eligible. With a very low certainty of evidence, pain intensity, emotional distress, and physical functioning at baseline were inconsistent for prediction of hrQoL and pain duration was not predictive. With low certainty of evidence, fewer pain sites, lower levels of negative cognitive behavioral factors, and higher levels of positive cognitive behavioral factors predicted a better outcome. Conclusions. The overall certainty of evidence was low to very low, making it difficult to reach definitive conclusions at present. Future studies with a predefined core set of predictors investigating hrQoL in patientswith chronic pain after IPR are needed

Development of a learning-oriented computer assisted Instruction designed to improve skills in the clinical assessment of the nutritional status: a pilot evaluation

Computer assisted instruction (CAI) is an effective tool for evaluating and training students and professionals. In this article we will present a learning-oriented CAI, which has been developed for students and health professionals to acquire and retain new knowledge through the practice. A two-phase pilot evaluation was conducted, involving 8 nutrition experts and 30 postgraduate students, respectively. In each training session, the software developed guides users in the integral evaluation of a patient’s nutritional status and helps them to implement actions. The program includes into the format clinical tools, which can be used to recognize possible patient’s needs, to improve the clinical reasoning and to develop professional skills. Among them are assessment questionnaires and evaluation criteria, cardiovascular risk charts, clinical guidelines and photographs of various diseases. This CAI is a complete software package easy to use and versatile, aimed at clinical specialists, medical staff, scientists, educators and clinical students, which can be used as a learning tool. This application constitutes an advanced method for students and health professionals to accomplish nutritional assessments combining theoretical and empirical issues, which can be implemented in their academic curriculum

Issues influencing medication adherence in Black women with hypertension

The purposes of this study were to: (a) describe the differences in adherent and nonadherent Black women who have hypertension (HTN), (b) examine issues that influence medication adherence, and (c) explore the relationship of reactant behaviors and medication adherence. Cox‘s interaction model of client health behavior was used to guide this study. Client singularity background variables: demographic characteristics (age and education), social influence (religion), previous health care experience (family history of HTN, comorbidities, number of medications, blood pressure [BP], and body mass index), and environmental resources (income and type of health coverage) along with client singularity dynamic variables: intrinsic motivation (reactance), cognitive appraisal (HTN knowledge, self-care of HTN, trust in health care provider, and coping), and affective response (perceived racism and depression) were examined to determine their influence on the health outcome, medication adherence. A cross-sectional, correlational non-experimental study was conducted with a convenience sample of 80 Black women who were taking antihypertensive prescription medications for blood pressure control. Over half of the participants (56%) were single, divorced, or widowed. Ages ranged from 19 to 60 with a mean age of 47.8 (SD ± 9.2). Almost one-third 30% (n=24) of the participants reported household incomes levels at or below the federal poverty level. The majority of the sample was employed (67%), physically inactive (90%), overweight/obese (88%), and had a history of smoking (54%). The study results did not show a difference between those who adhere to antihypertensive medications and those who do not. Also, there was no relationship between reactant behaviors and medication adherence. However, in the optimal predictive model, those aged 40-49 were less likely to be adherent to their antihypertensive medications. In contrast, those who took 5 to 7 medications were more likely to be adherent. Trust in the health care provider was highly associated with adherence to the medication treatment regimen. These results are congruent with the expectation that trust in the health care provider promotes better medication adherence. Future research should continue to identify factors that influence adherence to the treatment regimen among Black women with HTN and develop interventions that facilitate their ability to better manage their HTN and thus, maintain BP control

Evaluation of the development and application of multimedia computer assisted learning in Higher Education.

This thesis deals with approaches to the evaluation of multimedia computer assisted learning in higher education. The thesis is presented in two parts. The first part consists mainly of a literature based review of the rationale and methods employed in the development of multimedia CAL systems focusing on the ability of such systems to deliver a variety of pedagogic aims and objectives which the literature on the subject generally attributes to them. This was done in order to identify and examine the important features which should be incorporated in the effective evaluation of such systems. 1) the pedagogical basis of multimedia learning environments with particular reference to the mechanism by which they claim to encourage an approach to learning which facilitates 'deep' rather than 'shallow' learning' (Chapters 3 and 4); 2) the basis on which multimedia CAL systems claim to provide interactive learning environments which allow the teaching materials to be tailored by learners to accommodate their own individual preferences for adopting particular learning strategies. In particular this focused on the importance of individual learning styles and learners' degree of computer confidence (Chapter 5); 3) the institutional/delivery factors which must be understood to explain fully the context in which evaluations are carried out and which may have important effects on the outcomes of evaluation (Chapter 6). This literature review, together with a practical survey of a range of existing CAL courseware and an e-mail survey of CAL developers provides the basis for presenting an approach to evaluation which differentiates systems on the basis of the pedagogic approach they adopt and the context in which they are implemented. Finally, a critical review of existing evaluation methods was undertaken and important elements within these methods were incorporated into a new framework for evaluation. The framework provides a tool for determining an evaluation strategy that encompasses all stages of development, formative and summative evaluation of CAL courseware. Evaluation is based on the explicit aims and objectives of the courseware being provided and is moderated by contextual factors that define the pedagogical approach being taken, any individual learner differences that must be taken into account, and the institutional/delivery context within which the courseware is used. An analysis of the implications of the framework when formulating an evaluation strategy demonstrates weaknesses in the assessment instruments currently being used in evaluation studies - particularly for providing reliable measures of 'learning effect' as part of summative evaluation and also with respect to accurate quantification of costs associated with development and use of CAL courseware. The second part of the thesis tests the framework. The approach taken was to develop and formatively and summatively assess a multimedia CAL system used to teach parts of a course on bibliographic classification to students at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. Qualitative and quantitative tests to accomplish this are described and the result of statistical analyses of learner performance when using the system are presented. This empirical study provides further insights into the practical problems involved in developing and evaluating a multimedia CAL system and in particular highlights: 1) the influence which individual learning style (as measured by the Gregorc Style Delineator) has on student performance in a context in which postgraduate students were required to use the CAL courseware rather than attend lectures - results indicate that CAL does not serve all learners equally; 2) the importance of the delivery context in a study in which undergraduate students were provided with CAL materials to supplement the delivery of their course. The evaluation framework was found to be a robust framework for developing and testing didactic teaching packages which were developed in the context of improving the quality of the teaching and learning of bibliographic classification to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Recommendations are provided for future research based on using the framework to explore other contexts in which courseware is developed and implemented

사회적 자본이 소셜 네트워크 서비스 상에서 사용자의 루머 공유 의도에 미치는 영향

학위논문 (석사)-- 서울대학교 대학원 : 경영학과 경영학 전공, 2013. 2. 장정주.루머(Rumor)는 항간에 떠도는 중요한 정보 중 아직 진실로 입증되지 않은 내용을 담고 있으며, 문제시될법한 상황에 대한 불안감이나 위험을 줄여주는 기능을 한다. 사회구성원들 사이에서 정보와 지식이 공유되듯 루머가 퍼지는 현상 또한 앎에 대한 욕구에서 비롯한 커뮤니케이션의 결과물이다. 특히 트위터, 페이스북, 카카오톡 등으로 대표되는 소셜네트워크서비스(SNS)가 인기를 끌자 루머 역시 급속도로 확산되고 있다. 여타 매체에 비해 SNS는 메시지를 즉흥적으로 광범위하게 퍼뜨리는데다, 이에 제동을 걸기도 쉽지 않기 때문이다. 기존 연구는 루머가 확산되는 동인을 찾기 위해 심리학적 접근법을 사용했다. 그 결과 루머가 퍼지기 위해 네 가지 요소(불확실한 상황, 불안감, 소재의 중요성, 루머의 신뢰성)가 결정적으로 작용함이 밝혀졌다. 그러나 루머 확산이 사회적 현상임에 반해 기존 연구는 개인적 차원에 머물러 한계를 보였다. 루머는 검증되지 않은 지식으로써 일종의 지적 자원이다. 이는 더 많은 사람이 언급하고 신뢰할수록 더 중요한 정보로 인식됨을 의미한다. 즉, 루머는 사회적 맥락에서 통용됐을 때 가치가 높아진다. 본 연구는 최근 정보 확산의 시발점으로 주목 받는 SNS 상에서 사용자들이 루머를 공유하려는 의도에 미치는 영향을 사회적 차원에서 밝혀냈다. 이를 위해 본 연구에는 사회적 자본 이론(Social Capital Theory)과 사회 인지 이론(Social Cognitive Theory)이 적용됐다. 연구 결과, SNS 상에서 사용자들이 루머를 전달하는 의도에 큰 영향을 미치는 요인은 신뢰(Trust), 호혜 규범(Norm of Reciprocity), 개인적 결과 기대(Personal Outcome Expectations)로 나타났다. 첫째로 신뢰가 꼽힌 이유는 개방성과 익명성을 특징으로 하는 거대한 SNS 공간에서 사용자들은 믿을 수 있는 상대에게만 검증되지 않은 정보를 전달하기 때문으로 분석된다. 추가적으로 시행된 분석에서 기각된 가설인 동일시(Identity)와 사회적 교류(Social Interaction Ties)가 신뢰를 통해 루머 공유 의도(Intention of Sharing Rumor)에 직접 매개됨이 드러났다. 서로에 대한 동일시나 긴밀한 교류보다는 서로에 대한 신뢰가 루머 공유에 직접적인 영향을 준다는 의미다. 둘째, 호혜 규범을 통해서는 루머가 교환 가능한 지적 자원으로써 상대방에게 도움을 주기 위해 공유되는 경향이 있음을 확인할 수 있었다. 마지막으로 사회 인지 이론 측면에서 바라본 개인적 결과 기대는 사용자가 자신에게 사회적 이득이 생기기 때문에 루머를 공유한다는 가설을 뒷받침했다. 기존 연구가 온라인 상에서 검증된 정보나 지식의 공유에 미치는 영향을 분석했다면, 본 연구는 루머라는 새로운 장을 열었다는 데 의의가 있다. 마녀사냥이나 신상 털기 등 SNS 상에서 악성 루머 확산에 따른 부작용이 사회적 문제로 지목 받고 있다. 향후 연구는 SNS를 포함한 온라인이나 모바일 환경에서 루머 공유에 영향을 미치는 요인을 추가적으로 밝혀낼 뿐만 아니라, 기업 • 개인이 루머를 관리할 수 있는 기제나 시스템, 부정적인 루머에 뒤따른 피해를 최소화할 수 있는 방향으로 나아갈 것을 제안한다.Rumor spreading is one of the basic mechanisms for information dissemination in Social Network Services (SNS). As unverified but important knowledge, rumor is considered as a valuable resource. Drawing on Social Capital Theory and Social Cognitive Theory, this study theoretically articulates and empirically tests a model positing that social capital and social cognitive affect SNS users intention of sharing rumor in their SNSs. Results indicate that trust, norm of reciprocity, and personal outcome expectations play a significant role underlying SNS users intention of sharing rumor.CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER 2 THEORETICAL FRAMING 5 2.1 Attributes of Rumor 5 2.2 Social Capital Theory 10 2.3 Social Cognitive Theory 13 2.2 Understanding Knowledge Sharing in Virtual Communities 15 2.2 Social Network Services and Information Diffusion 18 CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH MODEL 22 3.1 Linking Structural and Relational Dimension 23 3.2 Linking Cognitive and Relational Dimension 24 3.3 Social Capital and Intention of Sharing Rumor 26 3.4 Social Cognitive and Intention of Sharing Rumor 31 CHAPTER 4 METHOD 34 4.1 Operationalization of Constructs 34 4.2 Data Collection 38 CHAPTER 5 ANALYSIS and RESULTS 42 5.1 Measurement Validation 43 5.2 Common Method Variance 48 5.3 Structural Model Analysis 49 5.4 Mediation Effect Analysis 52 CHAPTER 6 CONCLUSION 55 6.1 Research Findings and Discussion 55 6.2 Implications for Research and Practice 58 6.3 Limitations and Future Research Direction 62 REFERENCES 65 초 록 79 APPENDIX Questionnarie (in Korean) 81Maste

Comparing the performance and satisfaction of face-to-face and virtual teams in a learning enviroment

The main purpose of this study is to find whether virtual teams perform as effectively as face-to-face teams and if not, whether solutions can be derived to improve the levels of performance. To this end, the study compares the performance and satisfaction perception levels of virtual teams with face-to-face teams in a learning environment. In order to develop a sound framework for the research, a detailed literature review of prior research encompassing team satisfaction and performance in face-to-face and CMC (Computer Mediated Communication) supported environments was undertaken. Additionally the researcher performed a meta-analysis of previous research studies and from these was able to build a research framework to fit the particular context of this study. This framework has strong statistical power and a solid theoretical base

Wooden multi-storey construction market development in Sweden

The ongoing climate change is closely related to greenhouse gas emissions from industries. One of the contributors to these sustainability challenges is the house construction industry. Although residential and commercial construction is needed, the production practices needs to be altered in order to meet sustainability objectives. This licentiate dissertation focuses on conditions for wooden multi-storey construction (WMC) in a Swedish context. It explores the conditions for market development for residential WMC. The dissertation focuses on corporate perspectives, but it also integrates the role of end-consumers. A systematic literature review served as an orientation before conducting empirical case studies analysis. With an understanding of the industrial norm, currently reflected in materials such as concrete and steel, the empirical studies focused on wooden multi-storey construction case studies and end-consumer’s perceptions. These case studies indicate that a transition to WMC is hindered by path dependence, strong market positions for the currently used materials, and dated understandings of wood as a construction material. In the production process of residential construction, wood or other material, the end-consumer, the resident of an apartment in the house to be, is relatively anonymous. This is a reflection of a product dominant logic of the value chain where the end-consumer is a buyer or renter of an apartment. Enabling factors for further WMC market development that were verbalised by the case study respondents are captured in four factors: the properties of wood in a pre-fabrication setting, shorter erection times on site, fewer transports, and awareness of legislative sustainability demands. The case study interviewees report focusing on efficiency and technical properties in their business models - and limited concern for marketing communication and co-creation with end-consumers. The new legislation was seen as an enabling factor for the WMC market development by the case interviewees. It is clear that a sustainability transition, such as a gradual change to renewable construction materials that have carbon capture capacity, will take time. Business models that foster co-creation of value in public private partnerships may enable a WMC market development. The development of new legislation and increased awareness of sustainability aspects in construction is seen as future research areas for sustainable development