Internet Health Resources

Presents findings from a survey conducted in December 2002. Provides details on the health topics Americans search online and the impact it has on their health care

The Internet and the Iraq War

Presents findings from a survey conducted in March 2003. Looks at how supporters and opponents of the war are using the Internet differently, and how Americans are using email to debate, express concerns, and show their patriotism

Teachers\u27 Perceptions of Leadership in Young Children

The purpose of this research was to explore how teachers described, recognized, and would potentially influence leadership behaviors in children aged 4 to 6 years. One hundred thirty-three early childhood teachers and teachers of the gifted were surveyed using a researcher-designed instrument called the Recognizing Leadership in Children (RLIC) Survey to assess if teachers could recognize leadership from classroom scenarios that were based on actual classroom observations. As part of the survey, teachers wrote how they thought they might respond to the leadership scenarios. As there is a scarcity of literature concerning children’s leadership, the results from this study contribute information to the field. Data from this study indicate that teachers describe child leaders most often as helpful and self-confident with good communication skills. Teachers generally recognize child leadership but recognize obvious leadership behaviors more often than subtle ones. Teachers are more likely to encourage child leadership when they recognize behaviors as leadership; they are more likely to respond to child leadership in a discouraging manner when they do not recognize the behaviors as leadership. Therefore, if teachers learn to recognize child leadership, they could be more supportive, thus creating more developmentally appropriate early childhood classrooms. Keywords: child leadership, early childhood education, gifted, leaders, prosocial behaviors, social skills, teacher expectations, young childre

Developing/testing a new approach for assessing rapid visual identification of hematological cells using principles of visual cognition: a health science education study

The purpose of this study was the development and testing of a novel method for assessment of white blood cell (WBC) identification skills used in the field of Clinical Laboratory Sciences (CLS). A dual format exam was administered to both novices (students) and experts (laboratory professionals). Format 1 was similar to current assessment formats, simply presenting a series of single WBC images for identification. Format 2 applied principles of visual cognition, grouping WBCs for identification by patient and presenting multiple example images from the patient before requesting identification of individual cells. This novel exam format was intended to: (a) provide a contextualized visual background for single cell identifications, (b) mirror the process of WBC identification used in clinical practice, and (c) promote improved performance on difficult/atypical WBC identifications. The second phase of this study implemented qualitative methods to categorize the general cognitive processing styles used by novices/experts as either analytical or similarity-based. Cognitive processing styles were compared across the 2 levels of expertise as well as across exam formats. Statistical analyses did suggest that expert performance levels were significantly improved by the novel exam presentation format. Novice performance, however, was not significantly altered by exam format. Evaluation of response times indicated that expert response times were significantly shorter than novice response times in format 2, but not in format 1. In addition, analysis of qualitative data suggested that experts differed significantly from novices in their cognitive verbalizations for format 2, with experts making more statements at a higher cognitive level than did the novices. Format 1 verbalization differences were not found to be significant. Overall results indicated that the novel exam format invoked experts to implement similarity-based processing, allowing some identifications to be made at the level of the patient case, rather than simply at the feature identification level. Implications of this study include possible alterations to current certification/proficiency exam formats for questions requiring the visual identification of white blood cells. This study also suggests that using patient image sets as instructional stimuli may encourage the development of advanced cognitive processing skills in students

Exploring the qualities of midwifery-led continuity of care in Australia (MiLCCA) using the quality maternal and newborn care framework

© 2019 Problem: Midwifery-led continuity of care has well documented evidence of benefits for mothers and babies, however uptake of these models by Australian maternity services has been slow. Background: It is estimated that only 10% of women have access to midwifery-led continuity of care in Australia. The Quality Maternal Newborn Care (QMNC) Framework has been developed as a way to implement and upscale health systems that meet the needs of childbearing women and their infants. The Framework can be used to explore the qualities of existing maternity services. Aim: We aimed to use the QMNC Framework to explore the qualities of midwifery-led continuity of care in two distinct settings in Australia with recommendations for replication of the model in similar settings. Methods: Data were collected from services users and service providers via focus groups. Thematic analysis was used to develop initial findings that were then mapped back to the QMNC Framework. Findings: Good quality care was facilitated by Fostering connection, Providing flexibility for women and midwives and Having a sense of choice and control. Barriers to the provision of quality care were: Contested care and Needing more preparation for unexpected outcomes. Discussion: Midwifery-led continuity of carer models shift the power dynamic from a hierarchical one, to one of equality between women and midwives facilitating informed decision making. There are ongoing issues with collaboration between general practice, obstetrics and midwifery. Organisations have a responsibility to address the challenges of contested care and to prepare women for all possible outcomes to ensure women experience the best quality care as described in the framework. Conclusion: The QMNC Framework is a useful tool for exploring the facilitators and barriers to the widespread provision of midwifery-led continuity of care

Using a differential test battery to illustrate a multi-dimensional theory of intelligence

This study sets out to examine the premises of differential validity, or the use of score differences and patterns as predictors. This presupposes a view of ability or intellect as multidimensional, and therefore regards multidimensional patterns or profiles of scores, in addition to or irrespective of the actual levels of single test scores or weighted composites, as having predictive or classificatory uses. The advantages of taking a multidimensional view of intellect as assessed by differential testing are contrasted with the advantages of a unitary approach to intelligent performance, which assumes that a test or weighted test composite must be used to create a single index of performance. The study also considers the possibility that psychometric testing, as it is commonly used in selection and development, over stresses levels of performance and under-utilises the amount of information that can be gained from studying patterns of test scores. The differential test battery which is examined, the Morrisby Profile, is standardised and validated as part of this study by the author while working for the Morrisby Organisation, except where the assistance of others is specifically acknowledged. Methods for validating it both as a traditional and as a differential battery are examined, and various possible indices of differential efficiency are discussed, using multiple regression, discriminant function analysis and MANOVA. A further method is devised and presented for displaying the differential performance of a battery, using deviation scores. As deviation scores have the effect of making the measure at least partly ipsative, some issues of ipsativity are addressed, and arguments presented to justify the use of statistical techniques with partially ipsative data. Data is presented to show the relative effectiveness of different indices of validity, employing multiple regression, discriminant function analysis, MANOVA and the use of deviation scores. Although coefficients based on differentials alone rarely equal those based on score levels, combined coefficients are more effective than either, and their use is advocated. It is also argued that there may be real, if less easily quantifiable, advantages to the differential manner of presentation, with particular reference to groups commonly disadvantaged by traditional tests, especially in the field of development and guidance. The data sets examined included occupational groups, (engineers, technicians, managers, careers guidance officers and teachers), school students with academic criteria, applicants for engineering technician posts, insurance salespeople and managers whose promotional ratings had been assessed. Both categorical and noncategorical criteria are used. The battery is found to be an effective measure in both a traditional and a differential sense, although against the criteria available it is not possible to establish the absolute superiority of the differential approach in terms of predictive validity in the absence of all information relating to level of scores. It is shown that, when scalar and differential methods are combined, more of the variance is explained than when either method is used alone. In view of the possible disadvantages of traditional validation methods, it is suggested that there would be social advantages in utilising a differential method of testing. The implications of differential testing in the context of current perceptions of human abilities are discussed, and possible developments for a differential approach are indicated

“It's always on the safe list”: Investigating experiential accounts of picky eating adults

Previous research into severely restricted eating for reasons which are not cultural, medical, due to a lack of food or due to concerns about body image has focused predominantly on “picky/fussy eating” in children. Despite evidence that picky eating does continue into adulthood and recognition in the new diagnostic category Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) that problematically avoidant and restrictive patterns of eating affect people across the lifespan, relatively little is known about the challenges and consequences faced by older adolescents and adults. This research employs qualitative methods to explore the experience of living as an adult with picky eating behaviours. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with thirteen adults who identify as picky eaters and eat a highly limited diet, as determined by a checklist food questionnaire. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Two themes are presented in this paper: “Constructions of food” and “Motivators for and barriers to change”. These themes show the importance of how individuals perceive food, their diet and themselves, and implications for clinical practice and future research in light of these findings are considered

Context Is key: Delineating the unique functions of IFNα and IFNβ in disease

Type I interferons (IFNs) are critical effector cytokines of the immune system and were originally known for their important role in protecting against viral infections; however, they have more recently been shown to play protective or detrimental roles in many disease states. Type I IFNs consist of IFNα, IFNβ, IFNϵ, IFNκ, IFNω, and a few others, and they all signal through a shared receptor to exert a wide range of biological activities, including antiviral, antiproliferative, proapoptotic, and immunomodulatory effects. Though the individual type I IFN subtypes possess overlapping functions, there is growing appreciation that they also have unique properties. In this review, we summarize some of the mechanisms underlying differential expression of and signaling by type I IFNs, and we discuss examples of differential functions of IFNα and IFNβ in models of infectious disease, cancer, and autoimmunity