115 research outputs found

    Instruments to assess the perception of physicians in the decision-making process of specific clinical encounters: a systematic review

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The measurement of processes and outcomes that reflect the complexity of the decision-making process within specific clinical encounters is an important area of research to pursue. A systematic review was conducted to identify instruments that assess the perception physicians have of the decision-making process within specific clinical encounters.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>For every year available up until April 2007, PubMed, PsycINFO, Current Contents, Dissertation Abstracts and Sociological Abstracts were searched for original studies in English or French. Reference lists from retrieved studies were also consulted. Studies were included if they reported a self-administered instrument evaluating physicians' perceptions of the decision-making process within specific clinical encounters, contained sufficient description to permit critical appraisal and presented quantitative results based on administering the instrument. Two individuals independently assessed the eligibility of the instruments and abstracted information on their conceptual underpinnings, main evaluation domain, development, format, reliability, validity and responsiveness. They also assessed the quality of the studies that reported on the development of the instruments with a modified version of STARD.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Out of 3431 records identified and screened for evaluation, 26 potentially relevant instruments were assessed; 11 met the inclusion criteria. Five instruments were published before 1995. Among those published after 1995, five offered a corresponding patient version. Overall, the main evaluation domains were: satisfaction with the clinical encounter (n = 2), mutual understanding between health professional and patient (n = 2), mental workload (n = 1), frustration with the clinical encounter (n = 1), nurse-physician collaboration (n = 1), perceptions of communication competence (n = 2), degree of comfort with a decision (n = 1) and information on medication (n = 1). For most instruments (n = 10), some reliability and validity criteria were reported in French or English. Overall, the mean number of items on the modified version of STARD was 12.4 (range: 2 to 18).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This systematic review provides a critical appraisal and repository of instruments that assess the perception physicians have of the decision-making process within specific clinical encounters. More research is needed to pursue the validation of the existing instruments and the development of patient versions. This will help researchers capture the complexity of the decision-making process within specific clinical encounters.</p

    Notes for genera: basal clades of Fungi (including Aphelidiomycota, Basidiobolomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Calcarisporiellomycota, Caulochytriomycota, Chytridiomycota, Entomophthoromycota, Glomeromycota, Kickxellomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Mortierellomycota, Mucoromycota, Neocallimastigomycota, Olpidiomycota, Rozellomycota and Zoopagomycota)

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    Compared to the higher fungi (Dikarya), taxonomic and evolutionary studies on the basal clades of fungi are fewer in number. Thus, the generic boundaries and higher ranks in the basal clades of fungi are poorly known. Recent DNA based taxonomic studies have provided reliable and accurate information. It is therefore necessary to compile all available information since basal clades genera lack updated checklists or outlines. Recently, Tedersoo et al. (MycoKeys 13:1--20, 2016) accepted Aphelidiomycota and Rozellomycota in Fungal clade. Thus, we regard both these phyla as members in Kingdom Fungi. We accept 16 phyla in basal clades viz. Aphelidiomycota, Basidiobolomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Calcarisporiellomycota, Caulochytriomycota, Chytridiomycota, Entomophthoromycota, Glomeromycota, Kickxellomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Mortierellomycota, Mucoromycota, Neocallimastigomycota, Olpidiomycota, Rozellomycota and Zoopagomycota. Thus, 611 genera in 153 families, 43 orders and 18 classes are provided with details of classification, synonyms, life modes, distribution, recent literature and genomic data. Moreover, Catenariaceae Couch is proposed to be conserved, Cladochytriales Mozl.-Standr. is emended and the family Nephridiophagaceae is introduced

    Assessment of exposure to wheat flour and the shape of its relationship with specific sensitization

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    Objectives Dust and wheat-allergen exposure were assessed among bakers, flour millers, and bakery-ingredient producers, and the risk for sensitization was studied. Methods About 520 inhalable dust and wheat-allergen measurements were made among 270 Dutch workers. Data on sensitization to wheat and common allergens (atopy) were also available. Exposure was estimated according to the sector of industry, job title, and tasks. The shape of the relationship between sensitization and exposure was studied using a two-stage modeling approach: semi-parametric generalized additive modeling and, consequently, a simple description of the relationship using a parametric logistic model. To reduce the effect of exposure measurement errors (attenuation), a combination of the actual measured exposure and variance-weighted estimates of exposure was used. Results The effect of exposure to both inhalable dust and wheat allergens on sensitization was described best by a linear relationship in three industries and a quadratic relationship in one industry. The relation for the whole study population was best described as quadratic, and the probability of sensitization increased with exposure up to ~2.7 mg/m3 for inhalable dust and ~25.7 µg EQ/m3 for wheat allergens. The risk decreased at higher exposures (P=0.0121 and P=0.0731 for dust and wheat, respectively). Atopy and sector of industry modified the sensitization risk significantly in all the analyses. Using a variant-weighted estimator to calculate exposures corrected for the bias and resulted in almost the same point risk estimators. Conclusions Exposure–response relationships for allergens may be nonlinear and differ between industries. A threshold is not indicated on which to base occupational exposure standards; alternatively, other approaches, such as benchmarking, seem warranted

    Assessment of exposure to wheat flour and the shape of its relationship with specific sensitization

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    Objectives Dust and wheat-allergen exposure were assessed among bakers, flour millers, and bakery-ingredient producers, and the risk for sensitization was studied. Methods About 520 inhalable dust and wheat-allergen measurements were made among 270 Dutch workers. Data on sensitization to wheat and common allergens (atopy) were also available. Exposure was estimated according to the sector of industry, job title, and tasks. The shape of the relationship between sensitization and exposure was studied using a two-stage modeling approach: semi-parametric generalized additive modeling and, consequently, a simple description of the relationship using a parametric logistic model. To reduce the effect of exposure measurement errors (attenuation), a combination of the actual measured exposure and variance-weighted estimates of exposure was used. Results The effect of exposure to both inhalable dust and wheat allergens on sensitization was described best by a linear relationship in three industries and a quadratic relationship in one industry. The relation for the whole study population was best described as quadratic, and the probability of sensitization increased with exposure up to similar to2.7 mg/m(3) for inhalable dust and similar to25.7 mug EQ/m(3) for wheat allergens. The risk decreased at higher exposures (P=0.0121 and P=0.0731 for dust and wheat, respectively). Atopy and sector of industry modified the sensitization risk significantly in all the analyses. Using a variant-weighted estimator to calculate exposures corrected for the bias and resulted in almost the same point risk estimators. Conclusions Exposure-response relationships for allergens may be nonlinear and differ between industries. A threshold is not indicated on which to base occupational exposure standards; alternatively, other approaches, such as benchmarking, seem warranted
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