A new challenge for meteorological measurements: The meteoMet project-Metrology for meteorology

Climate change and its consequences require immediate actions in order to safeguard the environment and economy in Europe and in the rest of world. Aiming to enhance data reliability and reduce uncertainties in climate observations, a joint research project called MeteoMet-Metrology for Meteorology started in October 2011 coordinated by the Italian Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM). The project is focused on the traceability of measurements involved in climate change: surface and upper air measurements of temperature, pressure, humidity, wind speed and direction, solar irradiance and reciprocal influences between measurands. This project will provide the first definition at the European level of validated climate parameters with associated uncertainty budgets and novel criteria for interpretation of historical data series. The big challenge is the propagation of a metrological measurement perspective to meteorological observations. When such an approach will be adopted the requirement of reliable data and robust datasets over wide scales and long terms could be better met. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC

A theory-based process evaluation alongside a randomised controlled trial of printed educational messages to increase primary care physicians' prescription of thiazide diuretics for hypertension [ISRCTN72772651]

Background Pragmatic trials of implementation interventions focus on evaluating whether an intervention changes professional behaviour under real-world conditions rather than investigating the mechanism through which change occurs. Theory-based process evaluations conducted alongside pragmatic randomised trials address this by assessing whether the intervention changes theoretical constructs proposed to mediate change. The Ontario Printed Educational Materials (PEM) cluster trial was designed to increase family physicians’ guideline-recommended prescription of thiazide diuretics. The trial found no intervention effect. Using the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), we hypothesised that changes in thiazide prescribing would be reflected in changes in intention, consistent with changes in attitude and subjective norm, with no change to their perceived behavioural control (PBC), and tested this alongside the RCT. Methods We developed and sent TPB postal questionnaires to a random sub-sample of family physicians in each trial arm 2 months before and 6 months after dissemination of the PEMs. We used analysis of covariance to test for group differences using a 2 × 3 factorial design. We content-analysed an open-ended question about perceived barriers to thiazide prescription. Using control group data, we tested whether baseline measures of TPB constructs predicted self-reported thiazide prescribing at follow-up. Results Four hundred twenty-six physicians completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires. Baseline scores on measures of TPB constructs were high: intention mean = 5.9 out of 7 (SD = 1.4), attitude mean = 5.8 (SD = 1.1), subjective norm mean = 5.8 (SD = 1.1) and PBC mean = 6.2 (SD = 1.0). The arms did not significantly differ post-intervention on any of the theory-based constructs, suggesting a possible ceiling effect. Content analysis of perceived barriers suggested post-intentional barriers to prescribing thiazides most often focused on specific patient clinical characteristics and potential side effects. Baseline intention (β = 0.63, p < 0.01) but not PBC (β = 0.04, p = 0.78) predicted 42.6 % of the variance in self-reported behaviour at follow-up in the control group. Conclusions Congruent with the Ontario Printed Educational Messages trial results and aligned with the TPB, we saw no impact of the intervention on any TPB constructs. The theoretical basis of this evaluation suggests possible explanations for the failure of the PEM intervention to change professional behaviour, which can directly inform the design and content of future theory-based PEM interventions to change professional behaviour

Assessing the impact of predatory journals on policy and guidance documents: a cross-sectional study protocol.

peer reviewed[en] INTRODUCTION: Many predatory journals fail to follow best publication practices. Studies assessing the impact of predatory journals have focused on how these articles are cited in reputable academic journals. However, it is possible that research from predatory journals is cited beyond the academic literature in policy documents and guidelines. Given that research used to inform public policy or government guidelines has the potential for widespread impact, we will examine whether predatory journals have penetrated public policy. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a descriptive study with no hypothesis testing. Policy documents that cite work from the known predatory publisher OMICS will be downloaded from the Overton database. Overton collects policy documents from over 1200 sources worldwide. Policy documents will be evaluated to determine how the predatory journal article is used. We will also extract epidemiological details of the policy documents, including: who funded their development, the discipline the work is relevant to and the name of the organisations producing the policy. The record of scholarly citations of the identified predatory articles will also be examined. Findings will be reported with descriptive statistics using counts and percentages. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: No ethical approval was required for this study since it does not involve human or animal research. Study findings will be discussed at workshops on journalology and predatory publishing and will be disseminated through preprint, peer-reviewed literature and conference presentations

Metrology for pressure, temperature, humidity and airspeed in the atmosphere

The Joint Research Project METEOMET - "Metrology for Meteorology" realized in the frame of the European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP) is described in the paper. The project is focused on the traceability of measurements involved in the climate changes: surface and upper air measurements of temperature, pressure, humidity, wind speed and direction, solar irradiance and reciprocal influences between measurands. It includes development and testing of novel instruments as well as improved calibration procedures and facilities for ground based observations, including in-situ practical calibrations and best practice dissemination. The project consortium is based on 18 National Metrology Institutes (NMIs), three un-funded partners and several collaborators, such as universities, research centers, meteorological organization and institutions, from Europe and other non-European countries. Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM) in Italy is the project coordinator. Three Polish organizations participate in the project: the Central Office of Measure (MG-GUM), the Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research (INTiBS) and the Wrocław University (UWr)

Redesigning printed educational materials for primary care physicians: design improvements increase usability

Abstract Background Printed educational materials (PEMs) are a frequently used tool to disseminate clinical information and attempt to change behavior within primary care. However, their effect on clinician behavior is limited. In this study, we explored how PEMs can be redesigned to better meet the needs of primary care physicians (PCPs) and whether usability and selection can be increased when design principles and user preferences are used. Methods We redesigned a publicly available PEM using physician preferences, design principles, and graphic designer support. We invited PCPs to select their preferred document between the redesigned and original versions in a discrete choice experiment, followed by an assessment of usability with the System Usability Scale and a think aloud process. We conducted this study in both a controlled and opportunistic setting to determine whether usability testing results vary by study location. Think aloud data was thematically analyzed, and results were interpreted using the Technology Acceptance Model. Results One hundred and eighty four PCPs participated in the discrete choice experiment at the 2014 Family Medicine Forum, a large Canadian conference for family physicians. Of these, 87.7 % preferred the redesigned version. Follow-up interviews were held with a randomly selected group of seven participants. We repeated this in a controlled setting in Toronto, Canada, with a set of 14 participants. Using the System Usability Scale, we found that usability scores were significantly increased with the redesign (p < 0.001). We also found that when PCPs were given the choice between the two versions, they selected the redesigned version as their preferred PEM more often than the original (p < 0.001). Results did not appear to differ between the opportunistic and controlled setting. We used the results of the think aloud process to add to a list of end user preferences developed in a previous study. Conclusions We found that redesigning a PEM with user preferences and design principles can improve its usability and result in the PEM being selected more often than the original. We feel this finding supports the involvement of the user, application of design principles, and the assistance of a graphic designer in the development of PEMs

Projekt EMRP JRP ENV07 Metrologia dla meteorologii zakończony

W związku z obserwowanymi zmianami klimatu Światowa Organizacja Meteorologiczna (WMO) podjęła decyzję o przystąpieniu w 2010 r. do międzynarodowego porozumienia CIPM MRA. Spodziewanym efektem tego porozumienia jest poprawa oceny parametrów klimatu poprzez poprawę wiarygodności wyników pomiaru i związanych z nimi niepewności. Projekt JRP ENV07 MeteoMet, realizowany w ramach Europejskiego Programu Badawczo-Rozwojowego w Dziedzinie Metrologii, jest odpowiedzią na to wyzwanie. Projekt koncentruje się na spójności pomiarów parametrów klimatu. W artykule przedstawiono genezę projektu, główne zagadnienia, jakim był on poświęcony oraz omówiono udział polskich instytucji zaangażowanych w realizację projektu.The observed changes in climate led to the participation of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in an international agreement of the CIPM MRA. The expected result of an agreement, signed by the WMO in 2010, is to improve the assessment of climate parameters by improving the reliability of the measurement results and associated uncertainties. The project JRP ENV07 MeteoMet, implemented within the European Metrology Research Programme, is the answer to this challenge. The project is focused on the measurement traceability of climate parameters. The paper presents the genesis of the project, the main issues dedicated to the project as well as is discussed the participation of Polish institutions involved in the project