TOWARDS AN INCLUSIVE SKILLS TYPOLOGY

The article seeks to contribute to the clarification and deeper understanding of certain key skills concepts. In this context, it presents and analyzes both the usefulness and the limitations and difficulties of constructing a modern and comprehensive skills classification and proposes a categorization of skills that are considered critical for the performance of job roles and the effective execution of work tasks. The proposed skill typology broken down into 7 categories, 9 sub-categories and 68 individual knowledge and skills was based on an overview and analysis of 18 important existing skill typologies. The proposed typology covers fundamental, general, professional, social skills, as well as certain work-related attitudes and values. It also includes a reference to digital skills.  Article visualizations

Clinical trials of medicinal cannabis for appetite-related symptoms from advanced cancer: a survey of preferences, attitudes and beliefs among patients willing to consider participation

© 2016 Royal Australasian College of Physicians Background: Australian clinical trials are planned to evaluate medicinal cannabis in a range of clinical contexts. Aims: To explore the preferences, attitudes and beliefs of patients eligible and willing to consider participation in a clinical trial of medicinal cannabis for poor appetite and appetite-related symptoms from advanced cancer. Methods: A cross-sectional anonymous survey was administered from July to December 2015 online and in eight adult outpatient palliative care and/or cancer services. Respondents were eligible if they were ≥18 years, had advanced cancer and poor appetite/taste problems/weight loss and might consider participating in a medicinal cannabis trial. Survey items focused on medicinal rather than recreational cannabis use and did not specify botanical or pharmaceutical products. Items asked about previous medicinal cannabis use and preferences for delivery route and invited comments and concerns. Results: There were 204 survey respondents, of whom 26 (13%) reported prior medicinal cannabis use. Tablets/capsules were the preferred delivery mode (n = 144, 71%), followed by mouth spray (n = 84, 42%) and vaporiser (n = 83, 41%). Explanations for preferences (n = 134) most commonly cited convenience (n = 66; 49%). A total of 82% (n = 168) of respondents indicated that they had no trial-related concerns, but a small number volunteered concerns about adverse effects (n = 14) or wanted more information/advice (n = 8). Six respondents volunteered a belief that cannabis might cure cancer, while two wanted assurance of efficacy before participating in a trial. Conclusion: Justification of modes other than tablets/capsules and variable understanding about cannabis and trials will need addressing in trial-related information to optimise recruitment and ensure that consent is properly informed

Buprenorphine versus dihydrocodeine for opiate detoxification in primary care: a randomised controlled trial

Background Many drug users present to primary care requesting detoxification from illicit opiates. There are a number of detoxification agents but no recommended drug of choice. The purpose of this study is to compare buprenorphine with dihydrocodeine for detoxification from illicit opiates in primary care. Methods Open label randomised controlled trial in NHS Primary Care (General Practices), Leeds, UK. Sixty consenting adults using illicit opiates received either daily sublingual buprenorphine or daily oral dihydrocodeine. Reducing regimens for both interventions were at the discretion of prescribing doctor within a standard regimen of not more than 15 days. Primary outcome was abstinence from illicit opiates at final prescription as indicated by a urine sample. Secondary outcomes during detoxification period and at three and six months post detoxification were recorded. Results Only 23% completed the prescribed course of detoxification medication and gave a urine sample on collection of their final prescription. Risk of non-completion of detoxification was reduced if allocated buprenorphine (68% vs 88%, RR 0.58 CI 0.35–0.96, p = 0.065). A higher proportion of people allocated to buprenorphine provided a clean urine sample compared with those who received dihydrocodeine (21% vs 3%, RR 2.06 CI 1.33–3.21, p = 0.028). People allocated to buprenorphine had fewer visits to professional carers during detoxification and more were abstinent at three months (10 vs 4, RR 1.55 CI 0.96–2.52) and six months post detoxification (7 vs 3, RR 1.45 CI 0.84–2.49). Conclusion Informative randomised trials evaluating routine care within the primary care setting are possible amongst drug using populations. This small study generates unique data on commonly used treatment regimens

From novice to expert: Trajectories of skill acquisition through work

Η εργασία συνιστά, από την ίδια της τη φύση, τη χωροχρονική λειτουργία και τον ρόλο της στην κοινωνική ζωή, ένα πεδίο ανθρώπινης αλληλεπίδρασης που λειτουργεί ως πηγή εμπειριών οι οποίες επηρεάζουν εξελικτικά και μεταμορφωτικά το σώμα των γνώσεων, δεξιοτήτων και ικανοτήτων που κάθε άτομο διαθέτει και ενεργοποιεί κατά την άσκησή της. Το κείμενο εξετάζει τρεις θεωρίες που αναφέρονται στους τρόπους που συντελείται η απόκτηση δεξιοτήτων για τη μετάβαση από την κατάσταση του αρχάριου σε αυτήν του ειδικού: τη θεώρηση των S.E. Dreyfus & H.L. Dreyfus, την ανάλυση του Richard Sennett και την προσέγγιση των Chris Argyris και Donald Schön. Υπογραμμίζεται η σημασία της πρακτικής εργασιακής εμπειρίας και ειδικότερα της επίλυσης προβλημάτων ώστε να υπάρξει υποκειμενική πρόσληψη, εσωτερίκευση και εμπέδωση της θεωρητικής γνώσης. Παράλληλα όμως τονίζεται η κρισιμότητα της θεωρητικής, επιστημονικής γνώσης για την κατανόηση, τον έλεγχο και τη γενίκευση της πρακτικής εμπειρίας.Work is, by its very nature, its spatio-temporal function and its role in social life, a field of human interaction. As such is a constant source of experiences that evolutionarily and sometimes transformatively affect the body of knowledge, skills and competences that each individual possesses and activates during the practice of his/her profession. The paper examines three theories regarding the ways in which professional / vocational skills are acquired through work aiming to succeed the transition from the state of the novice to that of the expert: the theory of S.E. Dreyfus & H.L. Dreyfus, the analysis of Richard Sennett and the approach of Chris Argyris and Donald Schön. The importance of working experience and in particular problem solving is emphasized in order the learner to have a subjective acquisition, internalization and consolidation of theoretical knowledge. At the same time, the importance of theoretical, scientific knowledge for the understanding, control and generalization of practical experience is underlined

Recommendations for the Prevention, Detection, Treatment and Management of Prescription Opioid Analgesic Dependence: Outcomes From the Opioid Analgesic Dependence Education Nexus (OPEN) Meeting

Abstract The global consumption of opioids continues to rise, which has led to an increasing rate of diversion, misuse, addiction, and deaths related to prescription opioids. This has been particularly well documented in the USA; however, opioid analgesic dependence (OAD) is an increasing concern in Europe. More guidance is required for European healthcare professionals in the prevention, detection, treatment and management of OAD. The first Opioid Analgesic Dependence Education Nexus (OPEN) Mentor Meeting was held in Berlin in September 2014 to address this. An international Expert Panel, combining expertise in OAD from Australia, USA and Europe, invited 16 European experts in the pain and addiction fields to develop a best-practice approach to OAD that European practitioners can adopt. The outcomes from this meeting are presented here and included are a set of shared strategies that may be universally adopted by all healthcare professionals working with patients who use opioids.</jats:p

Quantifying hepatitis C transmission risk using a new weighted scoring system for the Blood-Borne Virus Transmission Risk Assessment Questionnaire (BBV-TRAQ): Applications for community-based HCV surveillance, education and prevention

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of drug-related morbidity and mortality, with incidence data implicating a wide range of HCV transmission risk practices. The Blood-Borne Virus Transmission Risk Assessment Questionnaire (BBV-TRAQ) is a content valid instrument that comprehensively assesses HCV risk practices. This study examines the properties of a new weighted BBV-TRAQ designed to quantify HCV transmission risk among injecting drug users (IDU).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Analyses of cross-sectional surveys of Australian IDU (N = 450) were used to generate normative data and explore the properties of a weighted BBV-TRAQ. Items weights were assigned according to expert key informant ratings of HCV risk practices performed during the development stages of the BBV-TRAQ. A range of item weights was tested and psychometric properties explored. A weighting scheme was recommended based on the plausibility of normative subscale data in relation to research evidence and the ability of BBV-TRAQ scores to discriminate between HCV positive and negative participants.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>While retaining the psychometric properties of the unweighted scale and demonstrating good internal reliability. By taking into account the <it>relative </it>transmission risk of a broad range of putative HCV practices, the weighted BBV-TRAQ produced promising predictive validity results among IDU based on self-report HCV status, particularly among young and less experienced injectors.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Brief, easy to administer and score, and inexpensive to apply, the utility of the BBV-TRAQ for community based education and prevention is enhanced by the application of item weights, potentially offering a valid surrogate measure for HCV infection among IDU.</p