Monitoring and evaluation of family interventions (Information on families supported to March 2010) RR044

Josie Dixon, Vera Schneider, Cheryl Lloyd, Alice Reeves, Clarissa White, Wojtek Tomaszewski, Rosie Green and Eleanor Irelan

Monitoring and evaluation of family interventions: information on families supported to March 2010 (Research report DFE-RR044)

"This report updates and builds on the previous research by presenting and analysing FIIS [Family intervention Information system] data provided by family intervention staff up to and including 31 March 2010. The report is primarily based on simple descriptive statistics which provide a summary of the quantitative evidence. In addition statistical modelling (logistic regression) was used to look at the factors associated with successful and unsuccessful outcomes." - Page 14

Power Analysis for the Mixed Linear Model

Power analysis is becoming standard in inference based research proposals and is used to support the proposed design and sample size. The choice of an appropriate power analysis depends on the choice of the research question, measurement procedures, design, and analysis plan. The best power analysis, however, will have many features of a sound data analysis. First, it addresses the study hypothesis, and second, it yields a credible answer. Power calculations for standard statistical hypotheses based on normal theory have been defined for t-tests through the univariate and multivariate general linear models. For these statistical methods, the approaches to power calculations have been presented based on the exact or approximate distributions of the test statistics in question. Through the methods proposed by O\u27Brien and Muller (1993), the noncentrality parameter for the noncentral distribution of the test statistics for the univariate and multivariate general linear models is expressed in terms of its distinct components. This in tum leads to methods for calculating power which are efficient and easy to implement. As more complex research questions are studied, more involved methods have been proposed to analyze data. One such method includes the mixed linear model. This research extends the approach to power calculation used for the general linear model to the mixed linear model. Power calculations for the mixed linear model will be based on the approximate F statistic for testing the mixed model\u27s fixed effects proposed by Helms (1992). The noncentrality parameter of the approximate noncentral F for the mixed model will be written in terms of its distinct components so that a useful and efficient method for calculating power in the mixed model setting will be achieved. In this research, it has been found that the rewriting of the noncentrality parameter varies depending on study design. Thus, the noncentrality parameter for three specific cases of study design are derived

Research Project No. 15, Predicting Individual Tree Height of Planted Loblolly and Slash Pines in East Texas, Update: 1987

Updated equations to estimate individual total tree height of loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L. ) and slash pine ( Pinus elliottii Engelm. ) trees planted on non-old-fields in East Texas are presented. The new revised equations were developed using data from initial measurement and first remeasurement of the East Texas Pine Plantation Research Project Permanent plots ( 1982-1987)

Acupuncture for whiplash-associated disorder following road traffic collision: a physiotherapy service evaluation

Background: Whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) is a common musculoskeletal condition that frequently occurs following a road traffic collision. Physiotherapy is often prescribed to help with the symptoms and injuries. Research evidence has demonstrated that acupuncture may be beneficial, but no studies have examined the routine clinical use of acupuncture by physiotherapists for treatment of WAD. Therefore, a physiotherapy service evaluation was conducted to examine the effects of acupuncture on WAD following a road traffic collision. Methods: This study involved 87 patients who attended a private physiotherapy practice following a road traffic collision after referral by their solicitor as part of a personal injury claim. Patients were included if they had been diagnosed with WAD (grades I–III) and received acupuncture as part of their treatment. An average of three sessions of acupuncture were received, which primarily involved needling of traditional acupuncture points and/or myofascial trigger points of the neck and upper/lower back. Results: Pain significantly reduced (p < 0.001). Musculoskeletal outcome measures including neck disability index, Oswestry low back pain scale and Quick disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (Quick-DASH) scale also significantly improved (all p < 0.001). Adverse events were minor. The majority of the patients (n = 66) were able to return to full-work duties following treatment. Conclusion: Acupuncture appears to be an effective clinical treatment for WAD following a road traffic collision and should be considered by physiotherapists working with such patient groups

Animal Tracks Urban Communities Action Pack

This guide includes Discovery, Awareness, Action and Appendices

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