Engineering design motivations : a qualitative and quantitative analysis of university students

What motivates students to perform and pursue engineering design tasks? This study examines this question by way of three Learning Through Service (LTS) programs: 1) an on-going longitudinal study examining the impacts of service on engineering students, 2) an on-going analysis of an international senior design capstone program, and 3) an on-going evaluation of an international graduate-level research program. The evaluation of these programs incorporates both qualitative and quantitative methods, utilizing surveys, questionnaires, and interviews, which help to provide insight on what motivates students to do engineering design work. The quantitative methods were utilized in analyzing various instruments including: a Readiness assessment inventory, Intercultural Development Inventory, Sustainable Engineering through Service Learning survey, the Impacts of Service on Engineering Students’ survey, Motivational narratives, as well as some analysis for interview text. The results of these instruments help to provide some much needed insight on how prepared students are to participate in engineering programs. Additional qualitative methods include: Word clouds, Motivational narratives, as well as interview analysis. This thesis focused on how these instruments help to determine what motivates engineering students to pursue engineering design tasks. These instruments aim to collect some more in-depth information than the quantitative instruments will allow. Preliminary results suggest that of the 120 interviews analyzed Interest/Enjoyment, Application of knowledge and skills, as well as gaining knowledge are key motivating factors regardless of gender or academic level. Together these findings begin to shed light on what motivates students to perform engineering design tasks, which can be applied for better recruitment and retention in university programs

Compensation and Culture: A Configurational Fit between Pay System and Culture Types

For most companies, compensation represents the largest single expenditure, and compensation is recognized as an important mechanism for organizational performance. Pay strategies also have the important role of underpinning and supporting organizational culture, and research suggests that failure to support organizational culture can precipitate a company’s failure. Understanding the convergence of these two domains represents an important area of research. We propose that four different culture classifications might each be supported by unique combinations of either an egalitarian or hierarchical pay distribution, in combination with or without pay-for-performance compensation strategies

Typical and variant anatomy of the palmar arteries during perinatal period of ontogenesis

Department of Anatomy, Clinical Anatomy and Operative Surgery, Bukovinian State Medical University, Chernivtsi, UkraineBackground: The value of the study is finding typical and variant anatomy of the palmar arteries during fetal and early neonatal periods of ontogenesis, which is important while performing amputations, osteosynthesis, resection of bones followed by further prosthetics, as well as during catheterization of the arterial branches in order to deliver diagnostic and therapeutic substances in fetuses, neonates and infants. Material and methods: The study was performed on 51 specimens of dead fetuses (from 4 to 10 months) and 10 neonates of both sexes died due to the causes not related to diseases of the muscular-skeletal system and without external signs of anatomical defects, without visual macroscopic deviations or anomalies from the normal structure of the upper limbs. Results: During the perinatal period of ontogenesis the typical anatomy of the palmar arteries (formation of the superficial palm arch) is found in 62% of cases, the variant one – in 38%. The variant structure of the palmar artery during the perinatal period of ontogenesis is divided into closed and openended (continuous superficial palmar arch is absent) arteries. In their turn, closed palmar arteries include anastomosis formation in the form of an arch and without arch formation. In case of open-ended arteries the palm is supplied with blood through the branches from two or three arteries. The older the fetus is, the greater percentage ratio of the typical structure of the palmar artery becomes (9% of cases more) in comparison with other forms. Moreover, the open-ended artery system increases when the palmar surface is supplied with blood from the three arteries (28% of observations more) in comparison with those cases when the palmar surface is supplied through the two arteries. During the perinatal period of ontogenesis the amount of the variant arterial structure is more found on the left palm (25%) compared to the right one (17.5%). Conclusions: Detection of the typical and variant anatomy of the palmar arteries is a morphological precondition to introduce new methods of performing radical and reconstructive-restorative surgeries on the hand

Mierniki jakości w opiece długoterminowej w kontekście oceny jakości usług medycznych

Introduction. Talking about the quality of care most often think of patient satisfaction and quality certificates or accreditation. However, the problem is much more complex, especially in long-term care. There is no clear and objective indicators of quality of service, which properly documented and processed allow evaluation and comparison of care providers in this field. Objective. The aim of the study was to present issues related to the quality of care in long-term care. Material and methods. The study used the research method of reviewing the available literature, the technique was to analyze the content of articles related to the subject matter. Overview. Quality in health care is an important element of the medical service provided, which has a significant impact on patient safety and satisfaction. Quality in long-term care of long-term care facilities is both ZOL-e ZPO and nursing homes, because long-term care is a complex socio-political issue that covers the entire range of services for dependent people, disabled people who need support in basic everyday activities. Measures of the quality of care are indicators based on scientific evidence (Evidence-based medicine - EBM). Conclusions. The quality-of-care survey is a very important indicator of the assessment of the facility in terms of respecting the patient's rights.Wstęp. Mówiąc o jakości opieki medycznej najczęściej myślimy o zadowoleniu pacjenta i certyfikatach jakości lub akredytacji. Jednak problem jest o wiele bardziej złożony, szczególnie w opiece długoterminowej. Brak jest bowiem jednoznacznych i obiektywnych wskaźników jakości usług, które właściwie dokumentowane i przetwarzane umożliwiłyby ocenę oraz porównywanie świadczeniodawców w tym zakresie. Cel. Celem pracy było przedstawienie zagadnień dotyczących jakości opieki w opiece długoterminowej. Materiał i metody. W pracy wykorzystano metodę badawczą przegląd dostępnej literatury, techniką była analiza treści artykułów powiązanych z przedmiotowym zagadnieniem. Przegląd. Jakość w ochronie zdrowia to istotny element realizowanego świadczenia medycznego co w istotny sposób wpływ na bezpieczeństwo i satysfakcję pacjenta. Jakość w opiece długoterminowej placówki opieki długoterminowej to zarówno ZOL-e ZPO oraz domy pomocy społecznej, gdyż opieka długoterminowa jest złożoną kwestią społeczno-polityczną, która obejmuje cały zakres usług dla osób niesamodzielnych, niepełnosprawnych, potrzebujących wsparcia w realizacji podstawowych, czynności dnia codziennego. Mierniki jakości opieki to wskaźniki powstałe w oparciu o dowody naukowe (Evidence-based medicine -EBM). Wnioski. Badanie jakości opieki jest bardzo istotnym wskaźnikiem oceny placówki w zakresie respektowania praw pacjenta

Rationing of nursing care in Internal Medicine Departments—a cross-sectional study

Background: Implicit rationing of nursing care refers to a situation in which necessary nursing care is not performed to meet all of the patients’ needs. Purpose: To examine the factors influencing the rationing of nursing care, nurses’ assessment of the quality of patient care, and their job satisfaction in Internal Medicine Departments. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken. The study included 1164 nurses working in the Internal Medicine Departments in 8 hospitals (Lower Silesia, Poland). The Perceived Implicit Rationing of Nursing Care instrument was used. Results: Respondents rarely ration nursing care, with a mean score of 1.12 (SD = 0.68). The mean score for quality of patient care was 6.99 (SD = 1.92). In contrast, the mean job satisfaction score was 6.07 points (SD = 2.22). The most important predictors of high rates of rationing of nursing care were work experience of 16–20 years (regression parameter: 0.387) and a Bachelor’s degree in nursing (regression parameter: 0.139). Nurses’ assessment of the quality of patient care ratings were increased by having a Master’s degree in nursing (regression parameter: 0.41), and significantly decreased by work experience of 16–20 years (regression parameter: -1.332). Independent predictors of job satisfaction ratings in both univariate and multivariate analysis were Master’s degree and long-shift working patterns. Conclusion: The factors that influence an increased level of nursing care rationing on medical wards are nurse seniority, exceeding 16 years and female gender. Obtaining a Master’s degree in nursing indicates improved nurses’ assessment of the quality of patient care

Culture, Competencies and Compensation: A Framework for Pay for Performance Incentives

The extant literature on pay for performance (PFP) compensation either focuses on factors dealing with the implementation of those programs, or the viability of PFP as a universal ‘best practice’. Alternatively we suggest that different organizational culture types align with unique firm competencies, and are supported by specific pay systems. We contend that a ‘clan’ culture might best foster the employee competencies of adaptability, innovation and technical expertise, and best be supported by a skill-based pay (SBP) compensation system. Alternatively, a ‘market’ culture might best foster the competencies of customer orientation and performance orientation, and be best supported by PFP

Cystoid Macular Edema: An Atypical Complication of Adult-Onset Foveomacular Vitelliform Dystrophy

Introduction. Adult-Onset Foveomacular Vitelliform Dystrophy (AOVD) is a bilateral, macular dystrophy. AOVD presents as a subretinal, oval or round, yellowish lesion in macula that manifests between 30 and 50 years of age. It is autosomal dominant with a slowly, progressive decrease in vision. AOVD is a pattern dystrophy of retinal pigment epithelium. AOVD presents as a slight decrease in vision or metamorphopsia later in life and can progress to geographic atrophy of RPE or CNVM. AOVD is associated with several complications and we report the first case of AOVD with subsequent Cystoid Macular Edema. Case Presentation. A 52-year-old Caucasian male presents with intermittent blurry vision and metamorphopsia of both eyes of several years duration. His best corrected acuity was OD 20/20 - OS 20/25. Fundus examination revealed Optic nerve heads that were flat and sharp bilaterally. Round, yellowish subretinal lesion in macula bilaterally with associated irregularity and thickening in macula bilaterally. Deviation from expected. This is the first reported case of Cystoid Macular Edema as a complicaton Adult Onset Foveomacular Vitteliform Dystrophy. Discussion. AOVD presents with a yellowish round sub-foveal lesion made up of lipofuscin being secreted by the retina. Lipofuscin is normal metabolic byproduct of retina, phagocytized by retina. Increased metabolic activity secondary to age, genetics, environment, etc. leads to increasing levels of circulating lipofuscin. Excess lipofuscin stored at level of RPE and presents as a vitelliform lesion. The lesions eventually reabsorb into retinal space and result in atrophy of the RPE Subfoveal choroidal neovascularization. Complications include: vascularized pigment epithelial detachment, Retinal folds, Central Serous Chorioretinopathy, Macular hole/RD, and Cystoid Macular Edema. CME is described as a thickening of macula due to intraretinal edema. Perifoveal capillaries leak abnormally resulting in growth of extracellular space and fluid accumulation in tissue. This causes 29 disruption of inner or outer blood-retinal barrier due to subsequent incompetence of retinal microvasculature. CME is a rarely reported complication of AOVD. Conclusion. AOVD is usually a benign pattern dystrophy of the retina. There are rarely reported complications associated with the condition. Ancillary testing such as the OCT and ERG can be used to aid in the diagnosis of AOVD and CME. Clinicians need to be knowledgeable about these potentially visually significant findings

Opinion of surveyed nurses on transplantation and reasons for negative public attitudes toward organ donation

Organ transplantation saves thousands of lives every year. Despite growing awareness of transplantation, the issue of obtaining organs for transplantation has been controversial for years. Hundreds of people are waiting in lines all the time for transplantation, for whom it is the only hope for a cure. One extremely important factor contributing to the low number of transplants is the low number of organ donations from deceased donors. Nurses are considered key facilitators of the organ procurement and transplantation process. Their knowledge of and attitudes toward organ donation can influence public opinion, as well as the decisions of their families to donate the organs of the deceased. The purpose of our study was to determine the opinions of surveyed nurses about transplantation and the reasons for negative public attitudes toward organ donation. The survey included 793 nurses employed in surgical wards across Poland with varying levels of job seniority. The survey was conducted between September and October 2022. The research tool was a survey questionnaire, consisting of three parts: socio-demographic data, questions assessing the respondents' knowledge of behavior about transplantation, and a non-standardized tool to measure respondents' emotional and motivational attitudes toward transplantation. Participation in the survey was anonymous and voluntary. The statistical analysis for independence of variables used the χ2 test. On the other hand, coefficients based on the Phi and Cramer's V test, as well as Kruskal Wallis non-parametric tests for assessing differences (for more than 2 samples) were used to determine the strength of the relationship. During these analyses, in addition to standard statistical significance, the corresponding “p” values were calculated using the Monte Carlo method. According to the nurses surveyed, transplantation is a life-saving procedure. A significant proportion of the nurses (85.6%) believe that there are too few donors in Poland. According to 41.8% of the respondents, this is due to the fear of misdiagnosis of death, for 23.4% it is incompatible with their worldview or religion and 31.8% believe it is due to the belief in the inviolability of the human body after death. The survey showed that, in the nurses' opinion, the reason for objections to organ transplantation is the deficit in public's knowledge of cell, tissue and organ donation from both living and dead donors. Therefore it is extremely important to conduct educational campaigns in this regard