208 research outputs found
Regional R&D efficiency in Korea from static and dynamic perspectives
Regional R&D efficiency in Korea from static and dynamic perspectives, Regional Studies. Research and development (R&D) efficiency has gained great attention in regional innovation research. This study examines the R&D efficiency patterns of 15 Korean regions for 2005â09. It employs data envelopment analysis to identify the regions' R&D performances relative to the best practices from the static perspective, and the Malmquist productivity index to evaluate their changes in performance within a given timeframe, providing a dynamic perspective. The results classify the Korean regions into deteriorating, lagging and improving groups, and indicate that most regions suffer from declining R&D productivity over time because of their inability to catch up with the best practices
How do we improve menâs mental health via primary care? An evaluation of the Atlas Menâs Well-being Pilot Programme for stressed/distressed men
Background
Over three-quarters of all suicides are men (England and Wales), this is despite higher levels of anxiety and depression being reported by women. This disparity may in part be explained by atypical presentations of distress in men, and gendered issues around help-seeking. Consequently, the Atlas Menâs Well-being Programme was designed to engage stressed/distressed men who were patients at a London-based GP surgery. Atlas encouraged GPs to identify and refer men for counselling and/or acupuncture by raising their awareness of menâs distress. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate Atlas in terms of patientsâ characteristics, service utilisation, patient outcomes and cost implications.
Methods
All patients using the Programme were asked to complete a questionnaire before and after their Atlas sessions. Outcome measures included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, a 11-point scale measuring physical health, and the Psychological Outcome Profiles (PSYCHLOPS), a patient-generated outcome measure. Additionally, for cost calculations, participants were asked about their employment, number of days off work due to illness, and their health and social care service use.
Results
102 participants were recruited, 82 completed pre- and post-treatment questionnaires. Comparisons pre- and post-treatment revealed a statistically significant improvement in anxious mood (p <0.001), perceived stress (pâ<â0.001), positive well-being (pâ=â<0.001), PSYCHLOPS (pâ=â<0.001) and physical health (pâ=â0.001), though not depressed mood (pâ=â0.660). Additionally, reductions in costs related to lost employment and health and social care use, exceeded the cost of Atlas counselling and acupuncture sessions, with an average saving of nearly ÂŁ700 per patient.
Conclusions
Atlas attendance was associated with improvements in patientsâ mental and physical health, and demonstrated likely cost savings. It is now important to understand patient and stakeholder perspectives. Further research could compare usual care with the Atlas approach, and investigate full cost-effectiveness
Blood pressure-lowering effects of nifedipine/candesartan combinations in high-risk individuals: Subgroup analysis of the DISTINCT randomised trial
The DISTINCT study (reDefining Intervention with Studies Testing Innovative Nifedipine GITS - Candesartan Therapy) investigated the efficacy and safety of nifedipine GITS/candesartan cilexetil combinations vs respective monotherapies and placebo in patients with hypertension. This descriptive sub-analysis examined blood pressure (BP)-lowering effects in high-risk participants, including those with renal impairment (estimated glomerular filtration rate<90 ml min-1, n=422), type 2 diabetes mellitus (n=202), hypercholesterolaemia (n=206) and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (n=971), as well as the impact of gender, age and body mass index (BMI). Participants with grade I/II hypertension were randomised to treatment with nifedipine GITS (N) 20, 30, 60 mg and/or candesartan cilexetil (C) 4, 8, 16, 32 mg or placebo for 8 weeks. Mean systolic BP and diastolic BP reductions after treatment in high-risk participants were greater, overall, with N/C combinations vs respective monotherapies or placebo, with indicators of a dose-response effect. Highest rates of BP control (ESH/ESC 2013 guideline criteria) were also achieved with highest doses of N/C combinations in each high-risk subgroup. The benefits of combination therapy vs monotherapy were additionally observed in patient subgroups categorised by gender, age or BMI. All high-risk participants reported fewer vasodilatory adverse events in the pooled N/C combination therapy than the N monotherapy group. In conclusion, consistent with the DISTINCT main study outcomes, high-risk participants showed greater reductions in BP and higher control rates with N/C combinations compared with respective monotherapies and lesser vasodilatory side-effects compared with N monotherapy
Regional development gaps in Argentina: A multidimensional approach to identify the location of policy priorities
Spatial inequalities within Latin American countries have historically attracted the interest ofacademics, policy-makers, and international agencies. This article aims to provide amultidimensional diagnosis of provincial development gaps in Argentina, in order to identifythe location of policy priorities. Therefore, we built a large database, which covers sevendevelopment dimensions, and applied multivariate analysis techniques to overcome someanalytical limitations of previous studies. Results show the stability of provincial developmentgaps between 2003 and 2013 and some heterogeneity within geographic regions. Instead,cluster analysis offers a better classification of Argentine provinces according to theirdevelopment gaps, which can help the government to prioritize the places wheredevelopment policies are strategic.Fil: Niembro, AndrĂ©s Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de RĂo Negro; ArgentinaFil: Sarmiento, Jesica Isabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de RĂo Negro; Argentin
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