An Investigation into the Relationship between Fourth Grade Degrees of Reading Power Achievement and the Fourth Grade New York State English Language Arts Assessment Achievement

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a statistically significant relationship in achievement between the traditional standardized fourth grade DRP reading test and the NYS English Language Arts Fourth Grade assessment. Academic standardized testing is becoming more performance based and is letting go of the traditional multiple choice assessment. New York State has adopted 28 learning standards for seven of the content areas. The language arts content area has four learning standards that have a great emphasis on higher level thinking and processing skills. To be able to assess the students properly, the state has developed the English Language Arts Assessment that requires students to create a more authentic written response by making more insightful connections between the reading passages and personal experience. The subjects were one hundred and thirty-one rural, heterogeneously-grouped fourth grade students. The ages of the students range from 8-10 years. The students\u27 reading abilities range from advanced readers to students who receive Title One support. A correlation was used to determine if there was a statistically significant difference between the NYS ELA and DRP test scores. All the findings indicate a strong positive correlation between the DRP reading test and the NYS ELA assessment. With 95% confidence, this study can expect that students who scored the highest on the ELA assessment should also score high on the DRP reading test, but may not have the same exact score. The same should also be true for the low and middle range scores. This expectation can be permitted due to the finding that essentially the skills measured on both tests are related

Electronic swallowing intervention package to support swallowing function in patients with head and neck cancer: development and feasibility study

Background: Many patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC) experience significant swallowing difficulties, and there is some evidence that swallowing exercises may improve outcomes, including quality of life. This feasibility study developed an evidence-based, practical Swallowing Intervention Package (SiP) for patients undergoing chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) for HNC. As part of the study, an electronic version of SiP (e-SiP) was concurrently developed to support patients to self-manage during treatment. This paper reports on the e-SiP component of this work. Objective: To develop and conduct preliminary evaluation of an electronic support system (e-SiP) for patients undergoing CRT for head and neck cancer. Methods: The study involved health professionals and patients who were undergoing CRT for head and neck cancer. The scoping stage of e-SiP development involved investigated the potential usefulness of e-SiP, exploring how e-SiP would look and feel and what content would be appropriate to provide. Patient and carer focus groups and a health professionals’ consensus day were used as a means of data gathering around potential e-SiP content. A repeat focus group looked at an outline version of e-SIP and informed the next stage of its development around requirements for tool. This was followed by further development and a testing stage of e-SiP involved the coding of a prototype which was then evaluated using a series of steering group meetings, semi-structured interviews with both patients and health care professionals, and analysis of e-SiP log data. Results: Feedback from focus groups and health professional interviews was very positive and it was felt e-SiP use would support and encourage patients in conducting their swallowing exercises. However, of the ten patients offered e-SIP, only two opted to use it. For these patients, aspects of the e-SIP application were considered useful, in particular the ease of keeping a diary of exercises performed. Interviews with users and non-users suggested significant barriers to its use. Most significantly the lack of flexibility of platform on which e-SiP could be accessed appeared a dominant factor in deterring e-SiP use. Conclusions: Results suggest a need for further research to be conducted around the implementation of e-SiP. This involves evaluating how e-SiP can be better integrated into usual care, and through patient training and staff engagement, can be seen as a beneficial tool to help support patients in conducting swallowing exercises

Karolina Gnatowski: Some Kind of Duty

Exhibit catalog for Karolina Gnatowski: Some Kind of Duty, January 17-March 31, 2019https://via.library.depaul.edu/museum-publications/1018/thumbnail.jp

To screen or not to screen: a descriptive analysis of factors influencing women's decisions to continue breast screening

Objectives: The primary purpose of this study was to identify factors that influence women's decisions to continue breast screening. A secondary objective was to investigate and compare the perceptions of service and health care providers about their roles in this decision. -- Background: Breast screening has the potential to reduce mortality from breast cancer by as much as one-third. In order to accomplish this, women must continue screening after their initial mammogram. Preliminary analysis of data from the Breast Screening Program for Newfoundland and Labrador (BSPNL) revealed that approximately one-in-five women who visit the St. John's Breast Screening Centre do not return for a second mammogram. -- Method: Data from the BSPNL database were analyzed using descriptive statistics to determine which demographic, socio-economic and screening behaviour variables were associated with returning for a second mammogram. In addition, a convenience sample of physicians received a questionnaire measuring their knowledge and attitudes about breast screening. Finally, interviews were conducted with staff and clients of the St. John's Breast Screening Centre to assess their views on the decision to continue screening. -- Results: Several demographic and screening behaviour variables were significantly associated with the decision to continue screening. Interviews with clients of the Breast Screening Centre also revealed attitudinal differences between women who continue screening and those who do not. -- Each group of participants identified the primary role for physicians as providing encouragement to continue screening. The primary role for staff was viewed as ensuring a positive screening experience. There were differences between the groups with respect to their views as to how these roles could be performed effectively. -- Conclusion: The decision to continue breast screening is complex and influenced by a number of variables. Suggestions for methods to encourage women to continue screening as well as suggestions for future research are discussed

Arizona Clinical Research Workforce Survey

Objective: We characterize the current clinical research workforce in Arizona with the goal of identifying possible educational training gaps for the future workforce. Background: The science community, government entities, educational institutions, and community programs continue to advocate for additional funding and resources to educate the bioscience workforce, of which clinical research is a part. However, there is little evidence that additional training and/or education is needed within the clinical research profession. Method: We utilized an electronic survey tool that was designed to solicit workforce data from clinical research professionals actively working or seeking employment in the field of clinical research within the state of Arizona. Distributed by email, the survey was sent to professional research organizations and associations, employment agencies, academic institutions, LinkedIn groups, and through a distribution list held by the Arizona Department of Health. Results were analyzed using a mixed method of descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis. Results: The majority of respondents to the survey were female and were between the ages of 41 and 60. When asked whether respondents thought that clinical research professionals should undergo formalized training through a college or university program that culminates in professional licensure, more than one-third indicated “no,”, while the rest of the respondents indicated “yes” (29.8%) or “no opinion” (33.8%). Respondents who answered “no,” had concerns related to scope of practice, status quo, diversity of practice, and cost. Respondents who answered “yes,” indicated that professional licensure would raise levels of quality and levels of understanding. More than half of respondents indicated that they were required to obtain continuing education and that training in “good clinical practice” and “regulatory requirements” was of most interest. Conclusion: The survey focused on the current educational and training needs of the clinical research workforce, yet provided limited general education and training needs for the future of the profession. In order to determine educational gaps within the profession, distinctions in job titles and responsibilities are required to control for the diversity within the profession. Additional research is needed to identify the expectations of employers, professional organizations, and government agencies so that higher education can prepare the future clinical research workforce with resource allocations. Application: This survey offers a foundation for future research to investigate resource allocation within the clinical research area of bioscience education

Case 6 : “I know there is hope, even in a world of loss”: A Local Community-Based Intervention to Address Mental Health Challenges Among First Nations Men and Boys

Kieran, a young man from River Rock First Nation (RRFN), is frustrated that there are no evidence-based, culturally-safe, and male-specific mental health resources available at any of the treatment centres he has attended. Kieran and his friend Jake partner with Jade, a recent PhD graduate, to initiate a boys’ and men’s mental health program in the community. Using the information Jade gathered for her PhD as a foundation, as well as drawing on applied research at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the team uses a participatory action research approach, including photovoice, to address mental health challenges of boys and men in RRFN. The goal of this case is to provide a platform for the reader to think critically about how mental health concerns can be addressed in Indigenous communities and have meaningful impact using the resources available to the community. This case will also allow students to explore methods that can be employed to build community capacity to develop evidence-based and culturally appropriate programming within a resource-scarce environment. After reading the case, students will start low on the Bloom\u27s cognitive taxonomy pyramid; through class discussions and instructor guidance the learners will advance to a higher cognitive domain