The use of cognitive interviewing methodology in the design and testing of a screening tool for supportive and palliative care needs.

Goals of work The authors describe the use of cognitive interviewing methodology in the development of a new supportive and palliative care screening measure to identify the specialist supportive and palliative care needs of patients with an advanced illness. Materials and methods A draft screening measure was developed by literature reviewing and consultation with patients, carers and health and social care professionals. Using this draft, cognitive interviews were conducted with six professionals and one consumer using the ‘thinking aloud technique’ to assess the perception, usefulness and interpretation of each question on the measure. The focus of these interviews was to identify unclear words or phrases and to explore how the questions worked in eliciting a response. A content analysis of the interviews was used to identify problems with the text, phrasing and format of the questions and accompanying responses. Main results The authors found the technique to be useful in identifying jargon or confusing questions. A number of perspectives were taken into account by speaking to health and social care professionals in primary care and secondary care who would be offering the measure to future patients. Conclusions The most sensitive questions were highlighted, and this enabled the researchers to consider how these should be asked and responded to in subsequent versions of the measure. The measure was re-drafted in light of these comments

COMMITTEE ON BRIDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (A1C17)

community to bear on national problems through its volunteer advisory committees

The political economy of privacy on Facebook

This article provides an analysis of the political economy of privacy and surveillance on Facebook. The concepts of socialist privacy and socialist internet privacy are advanced here. Capital accumulation on Facebook is based on the commodification of users and their data. One can in this context speak, based on Dallas Smythe, of the exploitation of the internet prosumer commodity. Aspects of a socialist internet privacy strategy are outlined and it is shown how they can be applied to social networking sites

A transdisciplinary approach to the economic analysis of the European Water Framework Directive

The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) prescribes economic principles to achieve its ecological targets. The aim is to establish cost-effective measures to attain good ecological status and assess whether the costs of these measures are justifiable in view of the benefits they provide. The complex nature of water problems requires flexible decision-making embracing a diversity of 'knowledges'. Here, natural and social scientist worked together in an integrated approach 'ground-tested' through local stakeholders' knowledge and views. The aims were to: (1) develop a set of steps for implementing this transdisciplinary approach, and (2) critically reflect on the challenges of integrating different strands of knowledge to the specific context of the economics of the WFD. This was tested at a sub-catchment in Scotland. Hydro-chemical models were used to simulate effectiveness of phosphorous pollution mitigation measures, which was then incorporated into a cost-optimization model. Costs were compared with benefits resulting from water quality improvements. This analysis was accompanied by an iterative local stakeholder consultation process. The research further analysed whether selected measures are 'future-proof' in view of climate and land-use changes. Results are used to help set the research agenda for more practical specification of economically sound and socially acceptable ways to deliver the WFD