Leadership styles and career paths of selected women in higher education administration and corporate administration

This study was made to determine if there were similarities or differences in the leadership styles and career paths of women in educational administration and women in corporate management; The populations of this study consisted of 50 women in higher education administration selected from the 1988 edition of the Higher Education Directory and 50 women in corporate administration from the 1988 Standard and Poor\u27s Register of Corporations, Directors and Executives. Women, in both areas, listed as presidents, vice-presidents, directors, deans, managers, chancellors, CEOs or other corresponding titles, were selected; The instruments used to gather data in this study were the Leadership Opinion Questionnaire designed to give scores on two leadership dimensions--Consideration (human relations) and Structure (task orientation; and a Biographical/Career Path Questionnaire, developed by the investigator, designed to gather information about personal characteristics and career paths; Executive women in business scored higher on both dimensions--Consideration and Structure--than the women in higher education. The educators reported more earned degrees, marriages of longer duration, fewer children and more parents with professional/managerial backgrounds than did the corporate executives who reported a higher percentage of parental influence on their career aspirations, more children per capita and marriages of shorter duration. Both groups agreed that experience, professional expertise and leadership ability had gained them their current managerial positions and that male chauvinism, male stereotyping of women and their early socialization were among the most important barriers that women faced in their attempts to obtain senior managerial posts; The following recommendations were offered: (1) an assessment of leadership styles needs to be correlated with an assessment of effectiveness; (2) similar research needs to be done with younger women to determine if the differences that exist in this study are consistent; (3) research is needed to determine the number of women who were interested in becoming administrators, but who did not succeed; (4) further research is needed to compare women in four-year institutions with women in community college administration; and (5) in-depth studies of women executives in specific industries/businesses to determine if the results are consistent with those in this study

A Comparison of Self-Esteem in Stepfather and Nuclear Family Children

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Staying Afloat in Tough Times: What States Are and Aren't Doing to Promote Family Economic Security

Staying Afloat in Tough Times tracks state-level policies that help families both avoid and cope with economic hardship. The report examines three categories of policies: work attachment and advancement, income adequacy, and asset development and protection. Although states have taken the lead over the last decade in policy efforts to help low income families, this study demonstrates that assistance is extraordinarily uneven across the states. The authors conclude that America needs a national vision of family economic security — and the leadership to implement it

A naturalistic study of emotion regulation-enhanced cognitive-behavioral group therapy for hoarding disorder in a community setting

Background Cognitive-behavioral group therapy for hoarding disorder (HD) is efficacious, but outcomes are modest and dropout rates are generally high. Clinical challenges in this population include high rates of comorbidity and difficulty regulating and tolerating negative emotions, which may reduce engagement with discarding exposures and lead to increased dropout. Methods In the current naturalistic study, we evaluated standard group cognitive-behavioral therapy enhanced with a three-session emotion regulation module in a large sample of individuals (N = 115) seeking treatment for HD at a community mental health clinic. We evaluated outcomes for distress tolerance, as well as hoarding symptoms and comorbid depression and anxiety symptoms. Results Distress tolerance was significantly improved at post-treatment, Hoarding symptoms, anxiety, and depression were also significantly decreased. Distress tolerance predicted more severe hoarding symptoms at baseline, but improvement in distress tolerance was not significantly associated with improvement in hoarding symptoms. Limitations The primary limitation was the absence of a control treatment condition, but HD is known to be a chronic condition which tends not to improve in waitlist control conditions. Conclusions Integrating emotion regulation strategies may provide an important pathway to improving treatment outcomes for hoarding disorder

The Effects of Pregabalin and the Glial Attenuator Minocycline on the Response to Intradermal Capsaicin in Patients with Unilateral Sciatica

BACKGROUND: Patients with unilateral sciatica have heightened responses to intradermal capsaicin compared to pain-free volunteers. No studies have investigated whether this pain model can screen for novel anti-neuropathic agents in patients with pre-existing neuropathic pain syndromes. AIM: This study compared the effects of pregabalin (300 mg) and the tetracycline antibiotic and glial attenuator minocycline (400 mg) on capsaicin-induced spontaneous pain, flare, allodynia and hyperalgesia in patients with unilateral sciatica on both their affected and unaffected leg. METHODS/RESULTS: Eighteen patients with unilateral sciatica completed this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-way cross-over study. Participants received a 10 mg dose of capsaicin into the middle section of their calf on both their affected and unaffected leg, separated by an interval of 75 min. Capsaicin-induced spontaneous pain, flare, allodynia and hyperalgesia were recorded pre-injection and at 5, 20, 40, 60 and 90 min post-injection. Minocycline tended to reduce precapsaicin injection values of hyperalgesia in the affected leg by 28% (95% CI 0% to 56%). The area under the effect time curves for capsaicin-induced spontaneous pain, flare, allodynia and hyperalgesia were not affected by either treatment compared to placebo. Significant limb differences were observed for flare (AUC) (-38% in affected leg, 95% CI for difference -19% to -52%). Both hand dominance and sex were significant covariates of response to capsaicin. CONCLUSIONS: It cannot be concluded that minocycline is unsuitable for further evaluation as an anti-neuropathic pain drug as pregabalin, our positive control, failed to reduce capsaicin-induced neuropathic pain. However, the anti-hyperalgesic effect of minocycline observed pre-capsaicin injection is promising pilot information to support ongoing research into glialmediated treatments for neuropathic pain. The differences in flare response between limbs may represent a useful biomarker to further investigate neuropathic pain. Inclusion of a positive control is imperative for the assessment of novel therapies for neuropathic pain.Nicole M. Sumracki, Mark R. Hutchinson, Melanie Gentgall, Nancy Briggs, Desmond B. Williams and Paul Rola

Performance Measures Using Electronic Health Records: Five Case Studies

Presents the experiences of five provider organizations in developing, testing, and implementing four types of electronic quality-of-care indicators based on EHR data. Discusses challenges, and compares results with those from traditional indicators

Are informal healthcare providers knowledgeable in tuberculosis care? A cross-sectional survey using vignettes in West Bengal, India.

Background: India accounts for one-quarter of the world's TB cases. Despite efforts to engage the private sector in India's National TB Elimination Program, informal healthcare providers (IPs), who serve as the first contact for a significant TB patients, remain grossly underutilised. However, considering the substantial evidence establishing IPs' role in patients' care pathway, it is essential to expand the evidence base regarding their knowledge in TB care. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, India. The data were collected using the TB vignette among 331 IPs (165 trained and 166 untrained). The correct case management was defined following India's Technical and Operational Guidelines for TB Control. Results: Overall, IPs demonstrated a suboptimal level of knowledge in TB care. IPs exhibited the lowest knowledge in asking essential history questions (all four: 5.4% and at least two: 21.7%) compared with ordering sputum test (76.1%), making a correct diagnosis (83.3%) and appropriate referrals (100%). Nonetheless, a statistically significant difference in knowledge (in most domains of TB care) was observed between trained and untrained IPs. Conclusions: This study identifies gaps in IPs' knowledge in TB care. However, the observed significant difference between the trained and untrained groups indicates a positive impact of training in improving IPs' knowledge in TB care

An Australian national survey of First Nations careers in health services

A strong First Nations health workforce is necessary to meet community needs, health rights, and health equity. This paper reports the findings from a national survey of Australia’s First Nations people employed in health services to identify enablers and barriers to career development, including variations by geographic location and organisation type. A cross-sectional online survey was undertaken across professions, roles, and jurisdictions. The survey was developed collaboratively by Aboriginal and non Aboriginal academics and Aboriginal leaders. To recruit participants, the survey was promoted by key professional organisations, First Nations peak bodies and affiliates, and national forums. In addition to descriptive statistics, logistic regression was used to identify predictors of satisfaction with career development and whether this varied by geographic location or organisation type. Of the 332 participants currently employed in health services, 50% worked in regional and remote areas and 15% in Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) with the remainder in government and private health services. All enablers identified were associated with satisfaction with career development and did not vary by location or organisation type. “Racism from colleagues” and “lack of cultural awareness,” “not feeling supported by their manager,” “not having role models or mentors,” and “inflexible human resource policies” predicted lower satisfaction with career development only for those employed in government/other services. First Nations people leading career development were strongly supported. The implications for all workplaces are that offering even a few career development opportunities, together with supporting leadership by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, can make a major difference to satisfaction and retention. Concurrently, attention should be given to building managerial cultural capabilities and skills in supporting First Nations’ staff career development, building cultural safety, providing formal mentors and addressing discriminatory and inflexible human resources policies

Cost-effectiveness of umeclidinium compared with tiotropium and glycopyrronium as monotherapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a UK perspective.

BACKGROUND: Cost-effectiveness of once-daily umeclidinium bromide (UMEC) was compared with once-daily tiotropium (TIO) and once-daily glycopyrronium (GLY) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from a UK National Health Service (NHS) perspective. METHODS: A linked-equation model was implemented to estimate COPD progression, associated healthcare costs, exacerbations rates, life years (LY) and quality-adjusted LY (QALYs). Statistical risk equations for endpoints and resource use were derived from the ECLIPSE and TORCH studies, respectively. Treatment effects [mean (standard error)] at 12 weeks on forced expiratory volume in 1 s and St George's Respiratory Questionnaire score were obtained from the intention-to-treat populations of two head-to-head studies [GSK study identifiers 201316 (NCT02207829) and 201315 (NCT02236611)] which compared UMEC 62.5 mcg with TIO 18 mcg and UMEC 62.5 mcg with GLY 50 mcg, respectively. Treatment costs reflect UK list prices (2016) and NHS unit costs; UMEC and GLY prices being equal and less than TIO. A lifetime horizon, discounted costs and effects at 3.5% were used. Sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the robustness of variations in input parameters and assumptions in the model. RESULTS: Over a lifetime horizon, UMEC was predicted to increase LYs (+ 0.195; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.069, 0.356) and QALYs (+ 0.118; 95% CI: 0.055, 0.191) and reduce the number of annual exacerbations (- 0.053; 95% CI: - 0.171, 0.028) compared with TIO, with incremental cost savings of £460/patient (95% CI: - £645, - £240). Compared with GLY, UMEC increased LYs (+ 0.124; 95% CI: 0.015, 0.281) and QALYs (+ 0.101; 95% CI: 0.043, 0.179) and reduced annual exacerbation (- 0.033; 95% CI: - 0.135, 0.017) at an additional cost of £132/patient (95% CI: £12, £330), resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of £1310/QALY (95% CI: £284, £2060). Similar results were observed in alternative time horizons and additional sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: For treatment of patients with COPD in the UK over a lifetime horizon, treatment with UMEC dominates treatment with TIO, providing both improved health outcomes and cost savings. In comparison with GLY, treatment with UMEC achieved improved health outcomes but was associated with a higher cost.Trial registration 201316, NCT02207829; 201315, NCT02236611

Cost-effectiveness analysis of a single-inhaler triple therapy for patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using the FULFIL trial: A UK perspective

Objectives: The clinical benefit of once-daily fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI) versus twice-daily budesonide/formoterol (BUD/FOR) for patients with symptomatic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was demonstrated in a clinical trial setting (FULFIL [NCT02345161]). The lifetime cost-effectiveness analysis of FF/UMEC/VI versus BUD/FOR, based on FULFIL data, is reported here. Methods: A previously developed and validated GALAXY-COPD linked-risk equation model was used to assess the cost-effectiveness of FF/UMEC/VI from the UK National Health Service (NHS) perspective. Baseline characteristics and efficacy results from FULFIL and UK NHS reference cost data (2017) were included as inputs. Exacerbation rates (undiscounted), costs, life years (LYs; undiscounted) and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were calculated over a lifetime horizon. Costs and QALYs were discounted at 3.5% per year, beyond one year, in accordance with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the robustness of the results. Results: Predicted cumulative exacerbations per patient over a lifetime were 8.393 with FF/UMEC/VI and 10.456 with BUD/FOR. Patients receiving FF/UMEC/VI gained an additional 0.764 LYs and 0.492 QALYs, at an additional mean cost of £1,652, resulting in an ICER of £3,357 per QALY gained (95% confidence interval: £1,816, £5,194) compared with BUD/FOR. The ICER remained below £6,000 in all but one of the scenario and sensitivity analyses. Conclusions: Compared with BUD/FOR, treatment with FF/UMEC/VI was predicted to improve health outcomes at an additional cost that suggests it would be cost-effective for patients with COPD in the UK