ARTIMIS Telephone Travel Information Service: Current Use Patterns and User Satisfaction

This report summarizes the results of a phone survey which evaluated the user satisfaction of the telephone traveler information service, ARTIMIS, in Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky. Information was also gathered on the users preference for a 3 versus 7 digit access number, use patterns, and user characteristics. The sample was obtained by intercepting calls to the service during Winter 1999. Users rated the service high. Common suggestions for improvements included longer hours of operation and coverage of more roads suggesting the service is valuable to its users. The travelers perceived that they benefited most by avoiding traffic problems, saving time, and reducing frustration. Of the 65% that would be willing to pay for the service, $0.25 was the average maximum payment they would be willing to make. The respondents had been using the service for an average of 13 months and made on average 4.3 calls per week. The 3 digit number, 211, was the most commonly used and recognized access number. Approximately 80 percent of individuals felt they would personally benefit from a nation-wide 3-digit number for travel information. Landline 211 calls result in an extra cost to operators of the system. Although these callers make less frequent calls, they are also more likely to make route or trip changes resulting in a public overall system benefi

Becoming Partners: A School-Based Group Intervention for Families of Young Children Who Are Disruptive

Abstract A multiple family discussion group program was implemented and evaluated by school counselors working with families of young children referred by their teachers for aggression and attention problems. The logic guiding construction of the program and the program's unique aspects are described. Outcome data revealed that the program was effective in reducing the children's hyperactive, defiant, and aggressive behavior and improving the parents' management skills. The advantages of school counselors conducting this program are discussed. School counselors often find themselves working with young children like Tim who demonstrate disruptive behavior and attention difficulties in school. These children are often overactive, inattentive, and demonstrate noncompliance, impulsivity, limited self-control, and an impaired ability to interact appropriately with adults and peers. These behaviors often result in academic difficulties, increased risk for rejection by their peers, and stigmatization as problem children by school staff Research on the causes of noncompliance and aggression in children reveal that in addition to differences in temperament that may contribute to their noncompliance, 4 children who are aggressive and disruptive at school often experience harsh inconsistent parenting at home (Brannigan, Gemmell, Pevalin, & Wade, 2002). Moreover, a number of studies report how the challenge of raising a difficult child (e.g. who is unpredictable, irritable, and unresponsive) often elicits a series of increasingly harsh parenting-child interactions that not only increase the levels of parental stress and guilt and diminish a sense of parenting competence, but also create a mutually coercive cycle of interaction (Johnson & Reader, 2002). Without appropriate, consistent parenting for these temperamentally difficult children, early behavior problems escalate to more severe problems and age-appropriate social competencies fail to emerge (Miller, 1998). Our program targets parents/families of primary grade children (e.g. first and second grade) whose child has been identified as demonstrating classroom conduct/behavior problems by their classroom teacher. There are several reasons for targeting this age range. First, teachers complain of problems in these children of noncompliance, limited self-control, and poor relations with peers. Second, these children are at increased risk for rejection by their peers. Third, a significant number of children who become chronically antisocial and delinquent first exhibit conduct problems during the preschool and early school years. We hoped that intervention with the families of disruptive primary school age children could help these parents teach their 7 children to behave appropriately before the child's behaviors resulted in peer rejection, well-established negative reputations, school problems, and academic failure

The role of micro-organisms (Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans) in the pathogenesis of breast pain and infection in lactating women: study protocol

Background: The CASTLE (Candida and Staphylococcus Transmission: Longitudinal Evaluation) study will investigate the micro-organisms involved in the development of mastitis and &ldquo;breast thrush&rdquo; among breastfeeding women. To date, the organism(s) associated with the development of breast thrush have not been identified. The CASTLE study will also investigate the impact of physical health problems and breastfeeding problems on maternal psychological health in the early postpartum period.Methods/Design: The CASTLE study is a longitudinal descriptive study designed to investigate the role of Staphylococcus spp (species) and Candida spp in breast pain and infection among lactating women, and to describe the transmission dynamics of S. aureus and Candida spp between mother and infant. The relationship between breastfeeding and postpartum health problems as well as maternal psychological well-being is also being investigated. A prospective cohort of four hundred nulliparous women who are at least thirty six weeks gestation pregnant are being recruited from two hospitals in Melbourne, Australia (November 2009 to June 2011). At recruitment, nasal, nipple (both breasts) and vaginal swabs are taken and participants complete a questionnaire asking about previous known staphylococcal and candidal infections. Following the birth, participants are followed-up six times: in hospital and then at home weekly until four weeks postpartum. Participants complete a questionnaire at each time points to collect information about breastfeeding problems and postpartum health problems. Nasal and nipple swabs and breast milk samples are collected from the mother. Oral and nasal swabs are collected from the baby. A telephone interview is conducted at eight weeks postpartum to collect information about postpartum health problems and breastfeeding problems, such as mastitis and nipple and breast pain.Discussion: This study is the first longitudinal study of the role of both staphylococcal and candidal colonisation in breast infections and will help to resolve the current controversy about which is the primary organism in the condition known as breast thrush. This study will also document transmission dynamics of S. aureus and Candida spp between mother and infant. In addition, CASTLE will investigate the impact of common maternal physical health symptoms and the effect of breastfeeding problems on maternal psychological well-being.<br /

Genome-wide analyses identify common variants associated with macular telangiectasia type 2

Idiopathic juxtafoveal retinal telangiectasis type 2 (macular telangiectasia type 2; MacTel) is a rare neurovascular degenerative retinal disease. To identify genetic susceptibility loci for MacTel, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) with 476 cases and 1,733 controls of European ancestry. Genome-wide significant associations (P < 5 × 10−8) were identified at three independent loci (rs73171800 at 5q14.3, P = 7.74 × 10−17; rs715 at 2q34, P = 9.97 × 10−14; rs477992 at 1p12, P = 2.60 × 10−12) and then replicated (P < 0.01) in an independent cohort of 172 cases and 1,134 controls. The 5q14.3 locus is known to associate with variation in retinal vascular diameter, and the 2q34 and 1p12 loci have been implicated in the glycine/serine metabolic pathway. We subsequently found significant differences in blood serum levels of glycine (P = 4.04 × 10−6) and serine (P = 2.48 × 10−4) between MacTel cases and controls

Selecting teachers and prospective teachers : a meta-analysis

The purpose of this review article was to examine the methods used for the selection of teachers for employment and prospective teachers entering initial teacher education (ITE) programs, and to assess the predictive validity of these methods. We reviewed 32 studies reporting selection methods administered in high-stakes conditions and that included an external (not self-reported) teacher effectiveness outcome measure. The overall effect size was small but significant (r = 0.12, p <.001). Moderator analyses showed that academic and non-academic predictors were both significantly associated with teacher effectiveness measures and that effect sizes were small (but significant) for selection into employment and ITE. We conclude the review by proposing a research agenda that has the potential to enhance educational outcomes by improving the selection of prospective teachers

Integrating Systematic Reviews into Supportive Care Trial Design: The Rethinking Clinical Trials (REaCT) Program

Purpose: To review the successes and challenges of integrating systematic reviews (SRs) into the Rethinking Clinical Trials (REaCT) Program. Methods: All REaCT program SRs were evaluated and descriptive summaries presented. Results: Twenty-two SRs have been performed evaluating standard of care interventions for the management of: breast cancer (n = 15), all tumour sites (n = 4), breast and prostate cancers (n = 2), and prostate cancer (n = 1). The majority of SRs were related to supportive care (n = 14) and survivorship (n = 5) interventions and most (19/22, 86%) confirmed the existence of uncertainty relating to the clinical question addressed in the SR. Most SRs (15/22, 68%) provided specific recommendations for future studies and results were incorporated into peer-reviewed grant applications (n = 6) and clinical trial design (n = 12). In 12/22 of the SRs, the first author was a trainee. All SRs followed PRISMA guidelines. Conclusion: SRs are important for identifying and confirming clinical equipoise and designing trials. SRs provide an excellent opportunity for trainees to participate in research

Becoming Partners: A School-Based Group Intervention for Families of Young Children Who Are Disruptive

A multiple family discussion group program was implemented and evaluated by school counselors working with families of young children referred by their teachers for aggression and attention problems. The logic guiding construction of the program and the program’s unique aspects are described. Outcome data revealed that the program was effective in reducing the children’s hyperactive, defiant, and aggressive behavior and improving the parents’ management skills. The advantages of school counselors conducting this program are discussed

The Rethinking Clinical Trials (REaCT) Program. A Canadian-Led Pragmatic Trials Program: Strategies for Integrating Knowledge Users into Trial Design

We reviewed patient and health care provider (HCP) surveys performed through the REaCT program. The REaCT team has performed 15 patient surveys (2298 respondents) and 13 HCP surveys (1033 respondents) that have addressed a broad range of topics in breast cancer management. Over time, the proportion of surveys distributed by paper/regular mail has fallen, with electronic distribution now the norm. For the patient surveys, the median duration of the surveys was 3 months (IQR 2.5–7 months) and the median response rate was 84% (IQR 80–91.7%). For the HCP surveys, the median survey duration was 3 months (IQR 1.75–4 months), and the median response rate, where available, was 28% (IQR 21.2–49%). The survey data have so far led to: 10 systematic reviews, 6 peer-reviewed grant applications and 19 clinical trials. Knowledge users should be an essential component of clinical research. The REaCT program has integrated surveys as a standard step of their trials process. The COVID-19 pandemic and reduced face-to-face interactions with patients in the clinic as well as the continued importance of social media highlight the need for alternative means of distributing and responding to surveys