Responsiveness of the BBT

Abstract : Aims: Study the responsiveness of the Box and Block Test (BBT) with older adults in rehabilitation. Methods: For a larger study on the responsiveness of several outcome measures, 264 older adults were recruited in rehabilitation units (RU) and day hospitals (DH) and assessed four times during their rehabilitation. For the present study, only the data for participants who had an impairment in at least one upper extremity were used (n = 87). The standardized response mean (SRM) and Guyatt Index (GI) were calculated. Analyses by sub-group were also performed. Results: The BBT’s responsiveness coefficients were moderate (SRM: 0.59; GI: 0.60). They were higher for participants treated in a RU (0.80 and 0.69) and participants who had had a stroke (0.67 and 0.83). Conclusion: The BBT can detect changes in dexterity in older adults undergoing rehabilitation, especially those being treated in a RU and those who have had a stroke

Early adolescence behavior problems and timing of poverty during childhood: A comparison of lifecourse models

Contex

Recensement des ressources et des activités des pharmacies de recherche en établissement de santé au Québec

Objectif : Dresser un portrait des ressources et des activités des pharmacies de recherche au Québec. Méthode : Un questionnaire a été créé pour évaluer les types de recherches menées dans les départements de pharmacie ainsi que les ressources et les activités des services pharmaceutiques de soutien à la recherche. Il a été envoyé aux départements de pharmacie des établissements de santé du Québec par l’entremise de la communauté de pratique du soutien pharmaceutique à la recherche clinique et par courriel aux chefs des départements de pharmacie. Des statistiques descriptives ont été effectuées. Résultats : Le taux de participation était de 83 % (25/30 établissements). Vingt (80 %) établissements offraient un service pharmaceutique de soutien à la recherche. Une médiane [min–max] de 1,8 [0–11,3] équivalent temps plein était consacrée au service pharmaceutique de soutien à la recherche, dont 0,4 [0–4] pharmacien. Plusieurs titres d’emploi distincts étaient formés dans les services pharmaceutiques de soutien à la recherche, soit au moins un pharmacien (100 %, 25/25), un assistant technique (58 %, 14/24), un agent de planification, de programmation et de recherche, un spécialiste en activités cliniques ou un assistant de recherche (n = 8) ou autre (n = 3). Les services pharmaceutiques de soutien à la recherche avaient une médiane [min–max] de 29 [1–187] protocoles ouverts et effectuaient 425 [0-2582] dispensations de produits de recherche annuellement. Les centres hospitaliers universitaires et les instituts avaient une charge de travail plus élevée, soit 80 [23-187] protocoles et 1000 [252-2582] dispensations. Conclusion : Les établissements de santé du Québec sont nombreux à offrir un service pharmaceutique de soutien à la recherche. Les charges de travail et les ressources consacrées à la recherche varient. La gestion de la recherche nécessite également des ressources. En outre, le financement de ces activités constitue un enjeu pour les départements de pharmacie du Québec. Abstract Objective: To describe the resources and activities of Quebec’s investigational drug services. Method: A questionnaire was created to identify the types of research conducted in pharmacy departments as well as the resources and activities of investigational drug services. The survey was sent to pharmacy departments in Quebec’s health-care centres via the community of practice on pharmaceutical support for clinical research and by e-mail to chief pharmacists. Descriptive statistics were performed. Results: The participation rate was 83% (25/30 centres). Twenty (80%) centres provided an investigational drug service. A median [min-max] of 1.8 [0-11.3] full-time equivalents were devoted to this service, including 0.4 [0-4] pharmacists. Several different job titles were trained to provide pharmaceutical research support services, including at least one pharmacist (100%, 25/25), one technical assistant (58%, 14/24), one planning, programming, and research officer, one clinical activities specialist or research assistant (n = 8) or other (n = 3). Investigational drug services were involved in a median [min-max] of 29 [1-187] ongoing trials and dispensed 425 [0-2582] orders for investigational products annually. Institutes and teaching hospitals had a higher workload, with involvement in 80 [23-187] ongoing trials and 1 000 [252-2582] investigational products dispensed. Conclusion: Many of Quebec’s health-care centres offer pharmaceutical services which support research. The workload and resources devoted to research vary. The management of research activities also requires resources. In addition, funding for these activities is an issue for pharmacy departments in Quebec

Le Forum, Vol. 43 No. 2

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/francoamericain_forum/1100/thumbnail.jp

Improving Rehabilitation Research to Optimize Care and Outcomes for People with Chronic Primary Low Back Pain: Methodological and Reporting Recommendations from a WHO Systematic Review Series

Chronic primary low back pain (CPLBP) is a prevalent and disabling condition that often requires rehabilitation interventions to improve function and alleviate pain. This paper aims to advance future research, including systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials (RCTs), on CPLBP management. We provide methodological and reporting recommendations derived from our conducted systematic reviews, offering practical guidance for conducting robust research on the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions for CPLBP. Our systematic reviews contributed to the development of a WHO clinical guideline for CPLBP. Based on our experience, we have identified methodological issues and recommendations, which are compiled in a comprehensive table and discussed systematically within established frameworks for reporting and critically appraising RCTs. In conclusion, embracing the complexity of CPLBP involves recognizing its multifactorial nature and diverse contexts and planning for varying treatment responses. By embracing this complexity and emphasizing methodological rigor, research in the field can be improved, potentially leading to better care and outcomes for individuals with CPLBP

Galaxy density profiles and shapes -- I. simulation pipeline for lensing by realistic galaxy models

Studies of strong gravitational lensing in current and upcoming wide and deep photometric surveys, and of stellar kinematics from (integral-field) spectroscopy at increasing redshifts, promise to provide valuable constraints on galaxy density profiles and shapes. However, both methods are affected by various selection and modelling biases, whch we aim to investigate in a consistent way. In this first paper in a series we develop a flexible but efficient pipeline to simulate lensing by realistic galaxy models. These galaxy models have separate stellar and dark matter components, each with a range of density profiles and shapes representative of early-type, central galaxies without significant contributions from other nearby galaxies. We use Fourier methods to calculate the lensing properties of galaxies with arbitrary surface density distributions, and Monte Carlo methods to compute lensing statistics such as point-source lensing cross-sections. Incorporating a variety of magnification bias modes lets us examine different survey limitations in image resolution and flux. We rigorously test the numerical methods for systematic errors and sensitivity to basic assumptions. We also determine the minimum number of viewing angles that must be sampled in order to recover accurate orientation-averaged lensing quantities. We find that for a range of non-isothermal stellar and dark matter density profiles typical of elliptical galaxies, the combined density profile and corresponding lensing properties are surprisingly close to isothermal around the Einstein radius. The converse implication is that constraints from strong lensing and/or stellar kinematics, which are indeed consistent with isothermal models near the Einstein radius, cannot trivially be extrapolated to smaller and larger radii.Comment: 31 pages, 15 figures; paper II at arXiv:0808.2497; accepted for publication in MNRAS; PDF file with full resolution figures at http://www.sns.ias.edu/~glenn/paper1.pd

Constraining the NFW Potential with Observations and Modeling of LSB Galaxy Velocity Fields

We model the NFW potential to determine if, and under what conditions, the NFW halo appears consistent with the observed velocity fields of low surface brightness (LSB) galaxies. We present mock DensePak IFU velocity fields and rotation curves of axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric potentials that are well-matched to the spatial resolution and velocity range of our sample galaxies. We find that the DensePak IFU can accurately reconstruct the velocity field produced by an axisymmetric NFW potential and that a tilted-ring fitting program can successfully recover the corresponding NFW rotation curve. We also find that non-axisymmetric potentials with fixed axis ratios change only the normalization of the mock velocity fields and rotation curves and not their shape. The shape of the modeled NFW rotation curves does not reproduce the data: these potentials are unable to simultaneously bring the mock data at both small and large radii into agreement with observations. Indeed, to match the slow rise of LSB galaxy rotation curves, a specific viewing angle of the non-axisymmetric potential is required. For each of the simulated LSB galaxies, the observer's line-of-sight must be along the minor axis of the potential, an arrangement which is inconsistent with a random distribution of halo orientations on the sky.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ; 15 pages, 13 color figures; High resolution version at http://www.astro.umd.edu/~kuzio/PAPERS/NFWvfs.htm

Promoting inclusive metrics of success and impact to dismantle a discriminatory reward system in science

“The most dangerous phrase in the language is: We’ve always done it this way.” —Rear Admiral Grace HopperSuccess and impact metrics in science are based on a system that perpetuates sexist and racist “rewards” by prioritizing citations and impact factors. These metrics are flawed and biased against already marginalized groups and fail to accurately capture the breadth of individuals’ meaningful scientific impacts. We advocate shifting this outdated value system to advance science through principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We outline pathways for a paradigm shift in scientific values based on multidimensional mentorship and promoting mentee well-being. These actions will require collective efforts supported by academic leaders and administrators to drive essential systemic change.Peer reviewe

Santé mentale et population universitaire : un laboratoire-vivant au service de la communauté : rapport de recherche

Cette étude a trois objectifs : 1) Identifier les principaux enjeux de santé des étudiant·es et des employé·es de l’UQAC en contexte pandémique, 2) Répertorier l’ensemble des mesures de soutien à la santé mises à la disposition des étudiant·es et des employé·es de l’UQAC, et 3) Identifier de nouvelles solutions à mettre en place afin de pallier les manques et de soutenir les étudiant·es et les employé·es de l’UQAC