Understanding DIBELS: Purposes, Limitations, and Alignment of Literacy Constructs to Subtest Measures

DIBELS Next is frequently used as a universal screening and progress monitoring tool within a Response to Intervention (RTI) framework. Unfortunately, some misguided educational professionals are not utilizing the assessments as they have been intended, resulting in defective instructional practices and faulty decision-making. In order for DIBELS to be used effectively, teachers must have advanced knowledge regarding assessment practices, understand data analysis and interpretation, and deliver instruction that can positively influence the reading development of at-risk learners. The intent of this project is to provide educators with an understanding of the appropriate uses and limitations of DIBELS. Additionally, this project sets out to align each DIBELS subtest with its corresponding literacy construct. The concepts of phonemic awareness, phonics, and reading fluency are fully defined and general instructional recommendations are provided for each. Finally, a sample of teaching strategies that can be utilized to support the needs of students experiencing difficulties in each of these areas is highlighted

Administrators Can Help Meet Reading Improvement Objectives

Total commitment to the improvement of the reading skills of our elementary and middle school students resulted from a performance objective initially set by our Board of Education. In some way all staff members were involved in the improvement of delivery systems and assessment programs

Development and evaluation of a decision aid about fertility preservation for Dutch breast cancer patients : informing patients about fertility preservation

In the Netherlands, information provision about fertility preservation (FP) for young women with breast cancer is not sufficient. Since an increasing number of Dutch breast cancer patients will face this preference-sensitive decision each year, there is a clear need for improvement of information provision about FP. The overall aim of this thesis was therefore to (a) develop and (b) evaluate a Decision Aid (DA) about FP that is targeted to improve information provision and decision making about FP for young women with breast cancer. This thesis describes consecutively the development and evaluation of such a DA with values clarification exercise (VCE)Pink Ribbon, Hilversum, the Netherlands DSW Health insurance, Schiedam, the Netherlands Dept of gynaecology, LUMC, Leiden, the NetherlandsUBL - phd migration 201

For which decisions is Shared Decision Making considered appropriate? – A systematic review

Objective:To identify decision characteristics for which SDM authors deem SDM appropriate or not, and what arguments are used.Methods:We applied two search strategies: we included SDM models from an earlier review (strategy 1) and conducted a new search in eight databases to include papers other than describing an SDM model, such as original research, opinion papers and reviews (strategy 2).Results:From the 92 included papers, we identified 18 decision characteristics for which authors deemed SDM appropriate, including preference-sensitive, equipoise and decisions where patient commitment is needed in implementing the decision. SDM authors indicated limits to SDM, especially when there are immediate life-saving measures needed. We identified four decision characteristics on which authors of different papers disagreed on whether or not SDM is appropriate.Conclusion:The findings of this review show the broad range of decision characteristics for which authors deem SDM appropriate, the ambiguity of some, and potential limits of SDM.Practice implications:The findings can stimulate clinicians to (re)consider pursuing SDM in situations in which they did not before. Additionally, it can inform SDM campaigns and educational programs as it shows for which decision situations SDM might be more or less challenging to practice

Values clarification in a decision aid about fertility preservation: does it add to information provision?

Background We aimed to evaluate the effect of a decision aid (DA) with information only compared to a DA with values clarification exercise (VCE), and to study the role of personality and information seeking style in DA-use, decisional conflict (DC) and knowledge. Methods Two scenario-based experiments were conducted with two different groups of healthy female participants. Dependent measures were: DC, knowledge, and DA-use (time spent, pages viewed, VCE used). Respondents were randomized between a DA with information only (VCE-) and a DA with information plus a VCE(VCE+) (experiment 1), or between information only (VCE-), information plus VCE without referral to VCE(VCE+), and information plus a VCE with specific referral to the VCE, requesting participants to use the VCE(VCE++) (experiment 2). In experiment 2 we additionally measured personality (neuroticism/conscientiousness) and information seeking style (monitoring/blunting). Results Experiment 1. There were no differences in DC, knowledge or DA-use between VCE- (n=70) and VCE+ (n=70). Both DAs lead to a mean gain in knowledge from 39% at baseline to 73% after viewing the DA. Within VCE+, VCE-users (n=32, 46%) reported less DC compared to non-users. Since there was no difference in DC between VCE- and VCE+, this is likely an effect of VCE-use in a self-selected group, and not of the VCE per se. Experiment 2. There were no differences in DC or knowledge between VCE- (n=65), VCE+ (n=66), VCE++ (n=66). In all groups, knowledge increased on average from 42% at baseline to 72% after viewing the DA. Blunters viewed fewer DA-pages (R=0.38, p<.001). More neurotic women were less certain (R=0.18, p<.01) and felt less supported in decision making (R=0.15, p<.05); conscientious women felt more certain (R=-0.15, p<.05) and had more knowledge after viewing the DA (R=0.15, p<.05). Conclusions Both DAs lead to increased knowledge in healthy populations making hypothetical decisions, and use of the VCE did not improve knowledge or DC. Personality characteristics were associated to some extent with DA-use, information seeking styles with aspects of DC. More research is needed to make clear recommendations regarding the need for tailoring of information provision to personality characteristics, and to assess the effect of VCE use in actual patients

Are publicly available internet resources enabling women to make informed fertility preservation decisions before starting cancer treatment: an environmental scan?

Background To identify publicly available internet resources and assess their likelihood to support women making informed decisions about, and between, fertility preservation procedures before starting their cancer treatment. Methods A survey of publically available internet resources utilising an environmental scan method. Inclusion criteria were applied to hits from searches of three data sources (November 2015; repeated June 2017): Google (Chrome) for patient resources; repositories for clinical guidelines and projects; distribution email lists to contact patient decision aid experts. The Data Extraction Sheet applied to eligible resources elicited: resource characteristics; informed and shared decision making components; engagement health services. Results Four thousand eight hundred fifty one records were identified; 24 patient resources and 0 clinical guidelines met scan inclusion criteria. Most resources aimed to inform women with cancer about fertility preservation procedures and infertility treatment options, but not decision making between options. There was a lack of consistency about how health conditions, decision problems and treatment options were described, and resources were difficult to understand. Conclusions Unless developed as part of a patient decision aid project, resources did not include components to support proactively women’s fertility preservation decisions. Current guidelines help people deliver information relevant to treatment options within a single disease pathway; we identified five additional components for patient decision aid checklists to support more effectively people’s treatment decision making across health pathways, linking current with future health problems

Practitioners' perceptions of acceptability of a question prompt list about palliative care for advance care planning with people living with dementia and their family caregivers: a mixed-methods evaluation study

Objectives In oncology and palliative care, patient question prompt lists (QPLs) with sample questions for patient and family increased patients' involvement in decision-making and improved outcomes if physicians actively endorsed asking questions. Therefore, we aim to evaluate practitioners' perceptions of acceptability and possible use of a QPL about palliative and end-of-life care in dementia. Design Mixed-methods evaluation study of a QPL developed with family caregivers and experts comprising a survey and interviews with practitioners. Setting Two academic medical training centres for primary and long-term care in the Netherlands. Participants Practitioners (n=66; 73% woman; mean of 21 (SD 11) years of experience) who were mostly general practitioners and elderly care physicians. Outcomes The main survey outcome was acceptability measured with a 15-75 acceptability scale with >= 45 meaning 'acceptable'. Results The survey response rate was 21% (66 of 320 participated). The QPL was regarded as acceptable (mean 51, SD 10) but 64% felt it was too long. Thirty-five per cent would want training to be able to answer the questions. Those who felt unable to answer (31%) found the QPL less acceptable (mean 46 vs 54 for others; p=0.015). We identified three themes from nine interviews: (1) enhancing conversations through discussing difficult topics, (2) proactively engaging in end-of-life conversations and (3) possible implementation. Conclusion Acceptability of the QPL was adequate, but physicians feeling confident to be able to address questions about end-of-life care is crucial when implementing it in practice, and may require training. To facilitate discussions of advance care planning and palliative care, families and persons with dementia should also be empowered to access the QPL themselves.Geriatrics in primary carePublic Health and primary car

Preserving fertility in women with cancer (PreFer): decision-making and patient-reported outcomes in women offered egg and embryo banking prior to cancer treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Women of childbearing age with new cancer diagnoses have to make rapid decisions about fertility preservation (FP) before starting cancer treatment (CT). The aim of the PreFer study was to explore this FP decision-making process and its impact on patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). METHODS: A prospective, mixed-methods design was used (questionnaires, in-depth interviews). Interviews were analysed using Thematic Analysis. Fifty-eight women with new cancer diagnoses were recruited. Comparisons were made between women who declined FP referral in oncology (Group1) and women who chose referral (Group2). Group 2 was further split into those who had some FP (2A) and those who did not (2B). Questionnaires and PROMs were administered prior to and after the fertility consultation, before the start of CT and 3 months post CT. Interviews were conducted with 1 participants from Group 2. RESULTS: HRQoL was negatively affected, particularly depression. Women's lack of understanding about the relationship between cancer treatment and fertility were evident. Five themes emerged from the interviews as barriers and facilitators to the FP decision-making process. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that better information and support resources aimed at women to support their decision making are needed, such as patient decision-aids. Women from Group 1 were found to suffer significantly worse depression compared to the general UK population; highlighting the need for psychological support in the FP care-pathway and for research exploring the contributions of depression and hopelessness to the decision-making process